King Kunika Pays Homage to Mahavira

Summary

The article reproduces a poetic description from the *Uvavaiya Suttam (Aupapātika Sūtra)*, considered the earliest Upāṅga (auxiliary scripture), which records Lord Mahavira’s samavasaraṇa at Campa and King Kunika’s pilgrimagefile:///home/oai/share/split_out/02_King_Kunika_Pays_Homage_to_Mahavira.pdf#:~:text=King%20Kunika%20Pays%20Homage%20to,of%20Indrabhuti%E2%80%99s%20going%20to%20the. King Kunika—identified with Ajātaśatru, son of Bimbisara—resolves to pay homage to Mahavira. He summons his chief army officer and orders him to prepare the royal elephant, assemble a fourfold army (infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots) and arrange separate vehicles for his queen Subhadra and the ladies of the haremfile:///home/oai/share/split_out/02_King_Kunika_Pays_Homage_to_Mahavira.pdf#:~:text=Then%20king%20Kunika%2C%20son%20of,them%20at%20the%20exterior%20court. The city of Campa must be cleaned, roads sprinkled with water, and galleries and platforms erected for spectators; flags bearing emblems such as lions and wheels should be unfurled, incense burned and public squares decoratedfile:///home/oai/share/split_out/02_King_Kunika_Pays_Homage_to_Mahavira.pdf#:~:text=As%2010%20the%20city%20of,Having%20completed%20the. After carrying out the preparations, the officer reports to the king, who is pleased and reiterates his intention to pay obeisance to Bhagavan Mahavirafile:///home/oai/share/split_out/02_King_Kunika_Pays_Homage_to_Mahavira.pdf#:~:text=assignment%2C%20please%20report%20to%20me,%E2%80%9D. The narrative continues with detailed descriptions of the preparations. The keeper of elephants decorates the royal elephant with talismans, garlands, ornaments, cushions, umbrella, flag and bells; the animal is likened to a moving mountain shrouded in dark clouds and lightningfile:///home/oai/share/split_out/02_King_Kunika_Pays_Homage_to_Mahavira.pdf#:~:text=The%20said%20keeper%20of%20the,ears%20of%20the%20elephant%20were. Weapons and armour are loaded, and the fourfold army is organized with the finest warriorsfile:///home/oai/share/split_out/02_King_Kunika_Pays_Homage_to_Mahavira.pdf#:~:text=the%20pick%20from%20infantry%2C%20cavalry%2C,ears%20of%20the%20elephant%20were. The keeper of royal vehicles prepares ornate carriages for each lady, ensuring they are yoked and decorated, and lines them up in the exterior courtfile:///home/oai/share/split_out/02_King_Kunika_Pays_Homage_to_Mahavira.pdf#:~:text=Then%20the%20Army%20Officer%20sent,and%20accessories%20and%20gracefully%20decorated. These vivid details illustrate the splendour of ancient royal processions, the reverence shown toward Mahavira and the integration of state authority and religious devotion. The article emphasises that such a lively and ornate portrayal is unique to the *Uvavaiya* and not found in any other Agamafile:///home/oai/share/split_out/02_King_Kunika_Pays_Homage_to_Mahavira.pdf#:~:text=Below%20we%20are%20reproducing%205%2F%E0%AB%AE5,%E2%80%94Editor. The episode underscores King Kunika’s humility before Mahavira and highlights Jain literature’s rich descriptive tradition.