Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra
by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words
This page describes Ara鈥檚 life before initiation which is the fifth part of chapter II of the English translation of the Shri Aranatha-caritra, contained within the 鈥淭rishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra鈥�: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Shri Aranatha in jainism is one of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.
Part 5: Ara鈥檚 life before initiation
After this hymn of praise, the 痴腻蝉补惫补 of Saudharma took the Lord, went to Ibhapura (贬补蝉迟颈苍腻辫耻谤补), and put him at Queen 顿别惫墨鈥檚 side. King 厂耻诲补谤艣补苍补 celebrated his son鈥檚 鈥榖irth-festival and named him Ara because 顿别惫墨 had seen a spoke of a wheel (ara) in a dream. Allowed to play with playthings by goddesses who were in the form of nurses and gods who had become friends, the Lord gradually grew up. At the proper time, 础谤补苍腻迟丑补, thirty bows tall, married princesses, because of respect for his father鈥檚 command. When twenty-one thousand years had passed since his birth, the Supreme Lord took the burden of the kingdom at his father鈥檚 command.
When the same amount of time had passed with the Lord as king, the cakra-jewel which moves in the air appeared in the armory. Following the cakra with the thirt茅en other jewels, Lord Ara conquered Bharata in four hundred years.