Chapter X — Manimekalai Learns Her Past

Suddenly, before her eyes, appeared the Holy Seat of Buddha. It shone radiant as the sun, A halo of divine glory hovered over it. It was made of purest crystal. On its pedestal, were the imprints of the sacred feet of the Master. The trees around showered down their fragrant blossoms. Yet not one withered leaf touched it. No rotten thing defiled it. No bird flapped its wings there. Was it not the seat of the Lord of Righteousness? It was placed here by the King of the Devas. By its great virtue, men could recall their past lives.

Two kings from the land of the Nagas. had once desired it for their own. Neither was able to move it. They gathered their armies to fight forit. The battle lasted long.. Many men died, soaked in their own blood. But the Lord Buddha passed by. He claimed the seat as His. Sitting there, he proclaimed the Law of Righteousness to the angry kings.. From that day, the seat was blessed. From that day, it was worshipped by all good men..

When Manimekalai saw the seat, all will and desire forsook her. She knew not what

MANIMEKALAI 43:

she did. Of their own accord, her hands folded above her head in the attitude of worship. Tears streamed from her eyes. She walked three times round the Sacred Seat,. then fell prostrate before it. Her loosened hair enwrapped her radiant form, as clouds. wrap round the lightning. When again she rose to her feet, all her past life was clear to her.

“QO wise and holy Brahmadharma!” she exclaimed, “Now I know your words are true. In my past birth, you met me on the banks of the river Kayankarai, You were then the brother-in-law of Attipathi. You were his teacher, and he was the king of the Gandhara country. To the king you pro- phesied, ‘In seven days a great earthquake shall shake the land. Your city shall be sub- merged by the sea. Not one soul shall escape. Flee then, from this place.’ The king hearken- ed to your words. The drums were beaten through the streets. The citizens were warned. They fled. The king himself went to the city of Avanti. On the way, he heard that the prophecy had come true. Heand his people blessed you as their saviour. Then you - taught them the Law of Righteousness.

“I:was then born, the daughter of the king Ravivanman. My name was Lakshmi-

Iwas given in marriage to Prince Raghulan. He was the son of Attipathi. Fair was my husband as the morning sun. We came to you, O wise Brahmadharma. We learned of you the divine truth. One day, you told me, ‘On the sixteenth day, Raghulan shall be bitten by asnake. He shall die. You, his wife, shall enter the flames with him. This is your fate. Nor can you escape it. You shall be born again in the city of Kaveripatnam. One day, evil shall threaten you. But Manimekala- Devi shall bear you away to an_ island. There you shall worship the Holy Seat. At sight of it, you shall remember your past life.’

“IT trembled at your words. In my grief, I asked you where my lover Raghulan would be born. You said that Manimekala-Devi would tell me this. O! that she would come to me now!”

Swift, as thought, the goddess came through the air to the Holy Seat. Three times she walked round it, giving praise. ‘O Lord Buddha!’, she chanted, ‘This seat is Thine, this Seat is Thou! Therefore do I praise it with my tongue. Therefore do I bow before it. Before Thy coming, all men on earth were foolish. Their hearts were deaf to the words of wisdom. Truth and Justice they had

MANIMEKALAI 4D.

forgotten. A poor, silly place was the earth before Thy coming. As a glorious sun didst Thou come into our midst. Darkness fled before Thy feet. Inits place, came love and truth and righteousness. Therefore do- I adore Thee in my heart. For I shall grieve: no more for the evil of the world.’

Then Manimekalai advanced to the god- dess. “By your divine favour I know my former life.” she said, ‘Tell me now, I pray you, who is my former husband fF”

“Listen, Lakshmi,” replied the goddess, “One day, in the pleasure garden, you quar-. relled with Raghulan. The Prince, in his love, pleaded with you. At that moment, Sadhu- chakra, a great sage passed through the air. He came down into the garden for shade from the mid-day sun. You blushed when you saw him. You saluted as if you were ashamed. Raghulan did not understand. He flew into a rage; he demanded the name of the stranger. But with your fingers, you gently closed the prince’s mouth. You chid him for not know- ing the great sage. Together, you saluted the- sinless saint. Though you were not his. disciples, you offered him food.

“He accepted it gladly. The result of that good deed still lives with you. For that good

deed, you shall be delivered from the bondage of birth. Prince Udhaya-kumaran is your husband, He loves you still; your heart also is drawn towards him. But you are destined to serve the Lord Buddha. It is your task to spread His Laws far and wide. If you fell a prey to love, it would be a great folly. It would be like throwing precious jewels into the sea, To save you from this, I brought you here. I wish to make you firm in the Holy Path of Service.

“Listen further, Lakshmi. In your last birth, you had two sisters. They were the wives of King Dutchaya. With him, they worshipped the Mount of the Lotus-Feet. It bears the footprints of the Master. Your two sisters are now with you in this life. They are Madhavi and Suthamathi. Now, Mani- mekalai, you know all your past life. You know the true faith. You will learn of other faiths. Men may refuse to discuss them with you because you are a woman. Let me there- fore, teach you three mantrams. The first will enable you to fly through the air. With the second, you can assume any form you choose. The last will destroy all hunger and thirst.

“On the sacred day of the ‘full moon, you will outgrow all earthly wisdom. You.

will then be confirmed in the true Faith. Salute now this Holy Seat, and return to Kaveripatnam.”

The goddess then taught Manimekalai the three mantrams. That done, she rose in ithe air and vanished.