Part 5: Birth ceremonies of Vāsupūjya

Their thrones being shaken, the fifty-six Dikkumārīs came and performed the birth-rites of the Master and the Master’s mother. Śakra got into Pālaka, came there with his retinue, and quickly circumambulated the Master’s house like the Master. Hari entered the house, gave a sleeping-charm to Queen Jayā, placed an image of the Arhat at her side, and made himself fivefold. One form took the Lord, another held an umbrella, two held chauris, and another went dancing ahead. Śakra went to Atipāṇḍukambalā on Sumeru and sat down on the lion-throne with the Lord on his lap. Then the sixty-three Vāsavas. beginning with Acyuta, bathed the Master with pitchers of water from the tīrthas. Then Śakra established the Jina on the lap of the Lord of Īśānakalpa as in his own mind. Purandara, skilled in devotion, made four crystal bulls in the four directions from the Jinendra. Expert in making a bath different from that of the other Indras, he bathed the Lord with the water rising from the horns. Śakra then destroyed the bulls, dried the Lord’s body, and anointed it with gośīrṣa-sandal.

After worshipping with divine ornaments, garments, and flowers, Vāsava made the light-waving and praised the Lord as follows:

Stuti:

“The karmas which are cut neither by the cakra of the cakrins, nor by the cakra of the ardhacakrins, nor by the trident of Īśāna, nor by my thunderbolt, nor by the weapons of other Indras, are destroyed by the sight of you, Lord. All the fires of pain which are extinguished neither by the waves of the Ocean of Milk nor by the light of the moon, nor by the hard showers of the rain-clouds, nor by gośīrsa-sandal, nor by the thick groves of plantains, are destroyed by the sight of you. People’s diseases, which are destroyed neither by various decoctions nor by numerous powders, neither by copious ointments nor by operations, nor by the use of charms, disappear at the very sight of you, Lord. However, I have talked at length enough. I say this in short: Whatever can not be accomplished (otherwise), that is accomplished by the sight of you, Lord of the World. I seek this fruit of the sight of you. May I see you again and again, as now.”

After praising the Jina in this way, Śakra took him, went and deposited the Jina at Queen Jayā’s side, and bowed. After taking away the queen’s sleeping-charm and the Arhat’s image, Śakra went to heaven, and the other Vāsavas went from Meru.