Vardhamana Purana
By R. Tattacharya
Summary
The Vardhamana Purana, a Kannada poem by Achanna (a Jaina Brahmin of Bharadvaja Gotra), narrates the previous births of Lord Mahavira's soul, tracing its journey across multiple lifetimes. The text begins with salutations to Jaina deities, including Jinaendras, Siddhas, and revered Jain scholars like Gautama and Samantabhadraswami. It acknowledges earlier Kannada poets who wrote Jinendrapuranas, such as Vijaya, Guna-varma, and Ranna. The narrative details the soul's incarnation as Visvabhuti, king of Magadha, who renounces worldly life alongside his brother Visakhabhuti and son Visvanandi. Visvanandi's reign is marked by conquests and mercy, but his cousin Visakhanandi's betrayal leads to conflict. After Visvanandi's death from a bull attack, Visakhanandi enslaves the defeated kingdom. In their next birth, Visvabhuti and Visvanandi reincarnate as Vijaya (Balabhadra) and Triprishta (Vasudeva), sons of King Prajapati. Achyuta (Triprishta) marries Svayamprabha, faces enemies, and rules Trikhanda, while Vijaya governs Magadha. The poem further traces the soul's rebirths as a lion in Simhagiri forest, later revealed to be Pururava, a hunter blessed by a sage. The text connects this to Marichi, son of Bharata (first Chakravarti), who establishes a distinct religious school and is prophesied as the last T
Conclusion
The Vardhamana Purana offers a profound exploration of karmic continuity and spiritual transcendence through the intertwined narratives of Visvanandi and Visakhanandi across multiple births. The text highlights the enduring consequences of actions, as Visvanandi’s mercy and self-sacrifice ultimately lead to his tragic demise, while Visakhanandi’s deceit and tyranny result in repeated downfall. The cyclical nature of their conflict—spanning royal intrigue, ascetic renunciation, and divine retribution—underscores the Jain principles of rebirth and moral accountability. The narrative culminates in the Chakra Sudarsana, symbolizing the triumph of dharma and the eternal struggle between spiritual ideals and worldly power. This document not only enriches the historical and literary landscape of Jain tradition but also serves as a moral treatise on the impermanence of earthly glory and the pursuit of liberation.