Major Delamjine on the Srdwacs or Jains. 431 



nancy* was delivered of a beautiful child, bearing upon it the mark of 

 a snake. The interpreters of di-eams and astrologers announced the birth 

 of a Chacravarti t TirChancara, who, from pdrsu-a, the side (round which 

 the snake was folded), obtained the name of PArswanat'ha. The rejoicings 

 of gods and men were very great on this occasion, and he was recognized 

 at once as a divine being. 



At a very early age the mother wished to take her son to see the worship 

 of the Panch-dgni, as performed by his former, though now unknown, enemy 

 Camita. Parswanat'ha- reprobated the ceremony, saying it was unmeaning, 

 but acceded to his mother's request. They mounted their elephant and crossed 

 the Ganges, the worship being performed on the opposite side. On arriving 

 at the spot, the Bi^ahman redoubled his devotions, but he was heartless. 

 He neither knew of, nor, when told, regarded two snakes that were perishing 

 in the flames. It was by a miracle of Bhagtiodn (Parswanat'ha) that they 

 were saved. Parswanat'ha upbraided him, and gave a different inter- 

 pretation of the Panch-dgni. He said that there was no religion without 

 mercy ; and that as much difference existed between dayd-dharma, compas- 

 sionate virtue, and adayd-dharma, uncompassionate virtue, as between mount 

 Meru and a grain of sand. Bhagwdn then demanded the release of two snakes 

 from a certain stick among the fuel ; but the devotee did not allow that any 



emblematical of the Asoca tree, stated to be peculiar to Arhant. Gomat Raja was worshipped 

 as Arhanta or Jineswara. 



* Much in the same manner was the birth of Gautama occasioned, and in ten months also 

 (As. Res. vol. X, p. 254) ; and Sacya, according to the Islamabad inscription, required a gestation 

 of ten months and ten days. Sacya is there identified with Buddha Avatdra, as being a form 

 of him. The mother of Salivahan also became pregnant, by the great serpent's gliding over 

 her (As. Res. vol. x, p. 40). Some make twelve years the period of pregnancy. 



All accounts concur in the supernatural conception, by the side, of Buddha the son of 

 Suddhodena, or Gautama Sacya; and, ad libitum, of all those whom it may be an object to 

 identify with him. 



•j- This, applied to Parswanat'ha, under his present form, appears to be figurative, as he did 

 not aspire to dominion. Vishnu, however, was a Chacravarti, and the title seems to relate to the 

 combined dominion of priest and king, as with the ancient Persian monarchs, who held the same 

 emblem, the Chacra. All these saints are made out to be Rdjds or kings. The last, however, 

 Mahavira, according to Mr. Colebrooke, is acknowledged to have been the offspring of an 

 indigent Brahman, though the transfer to a prince's family has been considered necessary for 

 effect; and Bhadra-bahu Cbefore mentioned) predicted wisely, in the interpretation of the 

 dream of the broken celestial tree (calpa vricsha), " tliat saints would no longer be kines." 



Vol. I. 3 L 



