[1] VASTUPAL TEJPAL (Charity and honouring the Sangh- Four folded follower of Tirthankara) (1) Vastupal-the Chief minister of Gujarat state everyday heartfelt offered food, clothes etc. to 500 Jain monks and alms to another 1,500 other monks and pennant monks. (2) Anupama Devi, wife of Vastupal s brother Tejpal, was a noble and pious lady giving alms (Supatradaan) to the Jain monks. (3) Vastupal was the Sanghpati (Sponsor of Tirthyatra - walking pilgrimage) to Shatrunjay - an eternal and holy pilgrimage of Jain. He washes the feet of all fellow pilgrims, who came to pay visit to Shatrunjay. Only those who understand religion can grasp the value of Sadharmik (Co-followers). By serving the Sadharmik, the religion is served and the great work of Sashan Prabhavna is done. Believing this, even though Vastupal was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he didn t hesitate to wash the feet of pilgrims. (4) Realising the importance of Holy Tirthyatra Sangh. Vastupal conducted 13 such holy Tirthyatra- Sangh in a grand scale to Shatrunjay. (5) He asked scholars and writers to write religious books and put up libraries in all the major cities. (6) He spent millions of Rupees to construct Jain Temple at Mount Abu with marvelous sculptures carvings and gorgeous idols. There is no other temple built in comparison to its beauty. Even today anyone who visits the temple is spellbound. Millions of Rupees were spent on various works of charity and good deeds - Punya. Gratitude to this great soul and his sprit to spread the message of lord Tirthankara (God).
2 [2] SHALIBHADRA (Detachment) (1) After the death of Noble Shalibhadra s father, he became a heavenly deity and started sending 99 boxes of heavenly food, clothes and ornaments daily to Shalibhadra. Despite such affluence, when Shalibhadra heard once from his mother that King Shrenik is our master ; he developed the sense of detachment and he decided to renounce the world. Every day, he started leaving his wives one after the other. (2) Shalibhadra s sister Subhadra was the wife of Dhannaji. While she was bathing her husband, out of love for brother Shalibhadra, she started crying. Dhannaji asked reason for crying, she told him about Shalibhadra s abandoning his wife one after the other. Dhannaji remarked What a coward!! If he wants to renounce the world, then why not leave all the wives at one go? Subhadra replied, It s easier too said than done. Dhannaji immediately left the house and went to call Shalibhadra. (3) Dhannaji told Shalibhadra If you want to renounce then both of us renounce the world today itself. (4) Both went to God Mahavir and be-came Monks and thereafter underwent rigorous penance. (5) When Shalibhadra was going for alms-bhiksha, Lord Mahavir told him that today he would receive Bhiksha from his mother. When he reached the palace none could recognize him because of his frail body. While returning empty handed, he happened to meet a milkmaid who was his mother in his previous birth. Out of motherly love, she offered him curd. (6) He fasted on Mount Vaibhavgiri till death and left for heavenly abode (Anuttarviman). Hearing this, his mother moaned and cried for him. King Shrenik consoled and calmed her down and saluted her for being a mother of a great monk. Bravo to renouncing of all the riches by Shalibhadra!!!
3 [3] DHANNA (KAKANDI) (Renunciation and Penance) (1) Dhanyakumar, the son of Bhadra due to his good deeds in his past life, was born in Kakandi and was owner of 320 million Gold pallets. With the blessing of mother, he was leading a luxurious life happily with his 32 wives. (2) One day after listening to the sermons of God Mahavir, Dhannaji decided to renounce world and became a monk. Thereafter he started fasting until death. (Two fasts followed by Ayambil followed by fasts for two days.) What a fortune! Though he enjoyed luxurious life but he had no attachment in such riches and he had no trouble in leaving behind such riches & worldly pleasures and his 32 wives at one stroke. He also gave up attachment for his body rather easily. (3) Even on the 3rd day of the week, when he ate, he ate undernourished, unpalatable and tasteless food (even flies would not like to sit on that food.) (4) Within 8 months, Dhanna s body was dried up by fasting. (5) Replying to King Shrenik, God Mahavir told that Dhanyakumar was one of the great in 14,000 monks who is always progressing on the spiritual path. The King immediately went to the Hill to pay his respects to Dhannaji. The real wealth of the soul is renunciation and penance and before whom even the Kings and heavenly Deities bow their head. Dhannaji fasted for a month on the mount Vaibhavgiri and left for heavenly abode (Anuttarviman). Bravo to Dhannaji and immense praises to his severe penance and detachment towards the material world!!!
4 [4] PUNYA SHRAVAK (Content and Religious Devotion) (1) In the province of Rajgrahi, a religious Jain named Punya was living with his wife. Due to his misfortune he could not earn more than 12 and half penny a day. (2) This little income was sufficient for two of them. But, one of them fasts on alternate day to offer food to Sadharmik (fellow Jain) with the sense of reverence. (3) Even though they were poor, they worshipped God every day with little they had and were quite satisfied. They lived by the philosophy of Content is the real virtue of the Soul. Hence they would remain occupied in religious thoughts and would carry out Samayik (to sit for 48 minutes for religious activity as shown in the pictures) with equanimity. (4) Once King Shrenik asked God Mahavir How could he avoid going to hell God Mahavir replied If you can obtain the fruits of one Samayik of Punya then you can abstain from going to hell. (5) The King met Punya and asked him to give the fruits of his one Samayik to him. Punya replied You can t get the fruits of Samayik with money. Ask God that is it possible to give the fruits of Samayik? When asked, God replied, Even if you stake up the entire riches of all Kingdoms, the value of one Samayik can not be compared, because the kingdom is materialistic and mortal while Samayik is spiritual and immortal and the image of soul, therefore one cannot even compare it with anything. Oh! what a satisfaction and self-content of Punya Shravak despite severe poverty! Praises to the virtuous Punya!
5 [5] MEGH KUMAR (Kind to all Creatures) (1) Megh Kumar, the son of King Shrenik was an elephant in his previous birth and lived in a forest. With the sense of fear of forest fires, the elephant cleared ants, grass and trees. Unfortunately, one day a fire broke out in the forest. The elephant reached that place and all the other animals also took shelter in that ground area. It got very crowded. The elephant raised his leg to scratch his body at that very moment a rabbit took refuge in the space where the elephant s leg was. To save the rabbit, the elephant kept his leg up in the air and balanced his body on three legs for two and a half days continuously. (2) When the fire subsided and all the animals left, the elephant tried to put his leg down but it was so numb that he couldn t balance himself and fell. He died of pain and starvation. (3) Due to the fruits of kindness towards the rabbit, in its next birth, the elephant took birth as Prince Megh Kumar. After listening to the sermons of God Mahavir, he decided to renounce the world. King Shrenik offered him crown, at once Megh Kumar asked for, Rajoharan- (a means for protecting leaving creatures), Patra (begging bowls) and Monk s robes (4) He left his palace, kingdom, and all his worldly pleasures and God Mahavir gave him Diksha (monkshood). (5) When he learnt about his previous birth of elephant and its kindness from God Mahavir, he was inspired and gave up all the attachment for his body. He went on Anshan (to fast without food and water until death). (6) With highly virtuous mental state, his soul left his body and became Deity in Anuttar heaven, the highest heavenly kingdom. Salutes to Megh Kumar.
6 [6] EMPEROR SAMPRATI (Worship to Jinendra, God) 1.Emperor Samprati, in previous birth was a hunger stricken beggar.the beggar saw some Jain Monks with food and begged them for food.the Monks replied, Only our Guru (Head of monks) is entitled to this food. Therefore, the beggar followed the Monks to their Guru. (2)Guru Shri Arya Suhasti Suriji upon seeing the inner property of the beggar and due to his foresight made the beggar a Jain Monk. Guru fed him well as per his desire. But, that very night, due to over eating the beggar had loose motions and vomiting and all the other Monks looked after him. Singing praises of the Charitrya (Monks life) the monk passed away. (3) In his next birth, the same beggar took birth as Samprati, the grandson of King Ashoka and the King of Ujjain. One day, when he saw the Guru - the same Guruji of his previous birth, he immediately recollected his past life. Humbly, he fell on the feet of the Guruji and asked him to take his kingdom and free him from the obligation. Guruji replied, Kingdoms don t suit Monks, use your fortunes to propagate and spread the cause of Jain religion. (4) Hence King Samprati opened Daan Shalas (donation houses). (5) He constructed various Jain temples and handsomely rewarded even those who informed him about construction of new Jain temple daily. (6) Construction of temples making of idols is going on salutes to the Great Samprati (spreader of Jain Religion) and to his God & Guru devotion. (7) King Samprati utilized all his resources to make in all 1,25,000 temples and 1,25,00,000 idols of Jain Gods. Even today these idols are worshipped at various places.
7 [7] EMPEROR SANAT KUMAR (Right Faith - Samyaktva) Emperor Sanat, in previous birth, was a staunch Jain having Right Faith.Once a saint (of false faith) got angry on Sanat, as he did not respect him. The saint with his devotee s (a king) help got very hot food served on Sanat Kumar s back and ate. Sanat Kumar had to suffer a lot and his back was full of boils. (1) After this he decided to renounce this materialistic world and his mortal body and meditated in every direction for 15 days each. Carnivorous birds kept eating flesh from his back, yet he did not break his meditation. (2) With absolute equanimity his soul left his body and he became the heavenly King of Deities, Indra. (3) Later he was reborn as a very handsome Chakravarti (a great emperor of the whole world), named Sanat Kumar.Two Deities in the disguise of Brahmins came to see the handsomeness of Sanat and were spellbound seeing his beauty while he was bathing. Hearing praise for him, Sanat became proud of his beauty and asked the Deities to see him in his grandeur, beauty and glory at his courtyard when he enthroned. (4) The Brahmins came and all they could see was a Sanat s body infected with 16 types of diseases, and they frowned with disgust. On asking the reason, the Deities said Don t be so proud you ugly and diseased man!! Immediately Sanat spat in the spittoon and realized that diseases had infected him. (5) He immediately renounced the world and became a monk. But for 6 months repeatedly his family followed and requested him to return, but Monk Sanat did not even look at them. (6) He did severe penance for 700 years with his diseased body, which got completely cured in his organic matter turning into anti- disease. The same Deities came in disguised as doctors to cure him. Great Monk Sanat with his own spit cured his diseased finger and showed them his lustrous finger. These Deities were amazed at this sight and the powers of penance. They bowed down in respect. Monk Sanat said Diseases are sin killers and hence our friends so, why stop it? He fostered Monkshood for 100,000 years and accomplished welfare of soul. Bravo to his firmness!!
8 [8] MAHASATI SITAJI (Glory of Pure Character) (1) King Ravana, abducting Sita persuaded her for sensual pleasure. He lured her by giving jewelry. Mandodari and all other queens of Ravana agreed to be the servants of Sitaji, yet Sitaji refused and believed that it was a sin even to see Ravana. Bravo to such a virtuous woman!! (2) Sita s husband King Rama defeated Ravana and got back Sita untouched to Ayodhya. But people pointed finger at her character. Hence, Ram left Sita, who was pregnant at that time, in the forest. She sent a message O revered one, misguided by the words of people you abandoned me, in the same way if you abandon true Jain religion you will never attain the Moksha What a nobility!! (3) Sita s sons Lav and Kush, when came to know of their mother s pitiable situation, they decided to wage war against his father Ram. Ram loses and was shocked but felt very happy when he came to know that they were actually his sons. To remove the doubts in the mind of the people of Ayodhya, Ram asked Sita to go through the Test of Flames. But by Sita s holy character even the Flames couldn t touch her and became a pond of water and Sita remained seated on a large scented lotus. (4) Ram, Laxman Lav and Kush repeatedly requested Sitaji to return to the Palace. But knowing the uncertainty of relations and hardship of Karmas, Sitaji renounced the worldly life and plucked out her long and beautiful hair from head and became a monk. Seeing this, Ram was unconscious. She left her two lion like sons, her husband and the life of a Queen and started penance and fasting. She became the King of 12th heaven in the next birth. Praises to Sitaji!!
9 [9] MONK STHULIBHADRAJI (Conquer of Lust) (1) Sthulibhadra was offered ministerial ring by King Nand to become a Minister, though he stayed for 12 years with a prostitute named Kosha. He said, I will think over and take it. Think here only! said the King. (2) Sthulibhadra thought, being a minister would mean entangled in worldly bondages and therefore decided to decline the offer and renounced the world to become a monk. (3) Conveying Dharmalabh (blessings of Jain monk) Sthulibhadra left. The King tested Monk Sthulibhadra. But the King was astonished to see the detachment. Sthulibhadra ceremoniously took Diksha from Guru Arya Sambhuti.(4) He studied 14 Purvas under the guidance of Bhadrabahu Swami. With Guru s permission, he decided to go and stay for four months of monsoon (Chaturmas) to the palace of the prostitute Kosha to conquer lust. The prostitute lured him with sensual music, dance and food, but she was ultimately dejected. (5) Seeing the determination of penance, the prostitute heard his sermon and decided to undertake 12 Vratas (oaths) of Shravika (woman follower of Jain religion). (6). One Monk fasted (without food and water) for 4 months of the monsoon at the mouth of a den of a ferocious lion. (7) One Monk fasted 4 months of the monsoon outside the hole of a vicious and poisonous snake. (8) One Monk fasted for 4 months of the monsoon on the edge of the well. (9) When all these 4 monks came back after their four months rigorous religious activity, the Guru greeted the three monks calling their work Dushkar karak (performers of difficult tasks) and monk Sthulibhadra as Dushkar Dushkar karak. (performer of the most difficult tasks). Infinite salutes to the monk Sthulibhadra whose name would remain immortal for 84 Chovisi (1 Chovisi = era of 24 Tirthankars -Gods).
10 [10] GENEROUS JAGADU SHAH (Generosity) (1) In Vikram Samvat 14th Century, Jagdu Shah, a gentlemen of Kutch was told by a Jain monk that in future there would be a severe drought, and the Jain monk told him to donate food grains and make good use of his money. Jagadu Shah had utmost faith in the monk and believed his words completely. The imagination of the hungry faces of all drought-stricken people appeared before his eyes. (2) Before the drought, for many years, Jagadu Shah collected and stored huge amount of grain in granaries all over Kutch and Gujarat. When drought struck the region, he donated all the grains to the needy. (3) At that time even Gujarat s King Vishaldev s granaries had no grains. Therefore even the King asked him for some grain. But he said that the grain was meant for the poor and the needy. Hearing this the King was shocked and appreciated Jagadu Shah s generosity, kindness and humility. (4) Later, ocean of Auchintya (One who knows what is right under difference circumstances) Jagadu Shah, gave grains to the King as he believed that donation is the foundation of religion and even more, donation of food makes your foe, your friend. Centuries have passed but yet his name is amongst one of the most generous men. Bravo Jagadu Shah!!
11 [11] MAHATMA GAJSUKUMAL (1) Father Vasudev, mother Devaki, brother Krishna and many other Kings of small kingdoms were eagerly waiting for Gajsukumal. While they all saw Gajsukumal returning from his Merriment, everyone was thrilled. Oh! What a respect! What a glory! And absolutely no trace of any worry or troubles of the world. (2) Gajsukumal was already engaged but renounced the worldly life after hearing the sermons of God Neminath. (3) After renouncement Gajsukumal took consent of God Neminath and went to a graveyard to meditate. His father-in-law, Saumil, in anger, put a stove on Gajsukumal s head and fired woods of graveyard. But Gajsukumal with his phenomenal equinity did not felt anything thinking that What is burning (body) is not mine and what is mine (soul) can not burn. He stood still, thinking that the burning wood might fell from his head and hurt living organisms on the ground. Despite his father-in-law s ghastly action, he did not developed any ill feelings for him and considered him helpful in facing and fighting his karmas (sins). With such thoughts, he died and attained Moksha (salvation of soul). (4) In the morning brother Krishna went to God Neminath. He asked, Where s Gajsukumal? God replied, When you enter the gates of the kingdom, the one you meet is the reason behind Gajsukumal s salvation. Hearing this Krishna went to the city to punish the murderer of Monk Gajsukumal. (5) Soumil saw Krishna entering the gates of the city. With fear Soumil's heart failed. The Sin committer died of his own sins.
12 [12] GREAT GURU SHRI HIRSURIJI & EMPEROR AKBAR (Observance of Non-Violence) (1) In Delhi, Jain Shravika, named Champa had fasted 6 months. When this news reached the Emperor Akbar, he was surprised. He asked Champa, How could she fast for so long? Champa replied, With the grace of God Mahavir and Guruji Shri Vijay Hir Suriji. Hearing this Emperor Akbar was keen to meet her great Guru. (2) Accepting Akbar s invitation Acharyadev Hir Suriji walked bare foot from Gujarat to Delhi to meet the Emperor. Guruji was welcomed with great pomp and glory in Delhi. But while entering the Palace, Guruji suddenly stopped, as he saw a carpet. When Akbar asked why, he replied, There may be small insects under the carpet and if he walks on it, they may die. So it is against our religion to walk on carpet. Emperor Akbar, in disbelief, got the carpet lifted and to his utter shock, there were ants under the carpet. Emperor Akbar was spellbound with the knowledge of Guruji and his religion. (3) Emperor Akbar gracefully requested Guruji to seek some thing to which Guruji said, During all the 8 days of Paryushan (the most religious festival of Jain), there should be no violence towards any living being in India. The law was passed for this and a copy of the enacted law was sent to Guruji as gift. (4) Emperor Akbar was addicted to eat half a pound of tongue of sparrow daily and therefore he was breeding sparrows at Dabur pond. (5) Due to the Guru s Sermons of non-violence, Akbar set free all the birds and turned over a new leaf in his life by accepting non-violence (Lover of Jeevdaya). What a spiritual sermon! (6) Hearing the sermons of Guruji, Akbar stopped collecting tax from Mount Shatrunjay (the eternal and most a holy pilgrimage of Jain) and Jajiya -a tax on Hindu. (7) He spread the word of non-violence in his kingdom.
13 [13] AVANTI SUKUMAL (Sacrifice) (1) Once Arya Suhastiji was revising the lesson of Nalini Gulma at a horses stable late in the night. Avanti heard this recital and remembered his past life. (2) He renounced the world and became a Jain Monk. At night he took anshan (fasting until death) and started meditating in the graveyard. There, his previous birth s wife, a vixen (fox s female) started eating his legs and reached his stomach. He died with samadhi (high level of peace of mind) and reached Nalinigulm a heavenly home. When Avanti s present births mother and his wives came to know about his death they wept bitterly. (3)They completed the burial ceremonies. (4)They reached the Guru and listened to his sermons. (5). All of them, except one (who was pregnant) of his wife, renounced world. (6) The pregnant wife gave birth to a son. A temple of Avanti Parshvanath (23rd Tirthankara-God) was constructed at a place where Avantisukumal was buried.
14 [14] ATIMUKTAK (AIMATTA) (Severe Repenting) (1) Atimuktak was a 6 year-old child, who offered Ganadhar Gautam Swami (the first disciple of God Mahavir) sweets (Laddus). (2) Atimuktak goes with Gautam Swami. Seeing the weight that Gautam Swami was carrying, he offered to carry the patras (wooden vessels of Jain monk). Gautam Swami said, Only when you become a Jain monk, you can carry patras (3) Hence, Atimuktak renounced the world and became a Jain monk at the age of 6. Once, he went out to answer a natures call to a quiet place. There, he saw rainwater flowing. He built a small portion of mud and he floated his patra as a boat and started playing and screaming in joy. Other monks asked him to stop. The monks reported this incidence to God Mahavir, How will this cage less child ever (who is killer of living organisms in water) observe non-violence. God replies, Don t disregard this child. He will achieve the supreme knowledge (Keval Gyan) before all of you. Hearing this the monks apologized. (4) One day, Atimuktak saw other children playing in the water with boats made out of leaves. It reminded of his previous play and how he had committed sin. (5) Reciting Iriyavahiya sutra (repenting the killing of living organisms) in Samavasaran (place of God s address), he attained the supreme knowledge (Keval Gyan) and Moksha at the tender age of 9 due to heartfelt repenting.
15 [15] ELAICHI KUMAR (One who sees fault in himself) (1) Once a Brahmin and his wife renounced the world and became Jain monks. His wife kept her body and clothes clean and felt proud of her caste. (2) As a fruit of being a Jain monk both became deities of heaven. (3) In their third birth they became a Prince Elaichi Kumar and a dancer respectively. One day, watching the Girl dancing, Elaichi got attracted to her. His parents and relatives tried to explain him but he left with her & learnt dancing. (4) In another city, the lady dancer and Elaichi Kumar performed a dance on a rope before the King, Queen & many other people of the city. They kept dancing expecting money from the King. But the King got attracted to the girl dancer and thought, if Elaichi Kumar falls off the rope and die, so that he could have girl dancer. (5) While dancing on the rope, Elaichi Kumar saw a very serene & composed Jain monk receiving food from a beautiful girl but monk refrained from even looking at the girl. Elaichi Kumar felt ashamed of himself and started hating on his longing for lust. He admired the calm composure of this monk & attained Supreme Knowledge (Kewal Gyan). He gave sermons.the girl dancer hearing about her previous birth, she hated her beauty that brings disaster. King & his Queen also repented their desire for worldly pleasures. All attained Keval Gyan. KING MUNJ (Female Voluptuousness) (1) King Munj was under the fear that Bhoj would take his kingdom and so ordered to kill Bhoj. On reading the Shlok written by Bhoj about uncertainty of kingdoms and its mortality, King Munj gives the Kingdom to Bhoj. (2) Defeated in war against Telang, Munj became a prisoner and gets attracted to Telang s sister Mrinalwati. (3) Bhoj made a tunnel to the prison and asked King Munj to escape through it. (4) Munj told his beloved Mrinalwati about his escape. She went and informed her brother King immediately. To punish him the King put fetters around his hands & legs and gave him orders to beg for food. Munj shouts and tells people so that they realize the result of craving for lust and women. Munj had to face such hardships and beg for food.
16 [16] KURGADU NAGDUTTA (Self introspection) (1) Kurgadu was a Jain monk who couldn t fast. He would take food & water at the time of Navkarshi (48 minutes after Sunrise which is the earliest time a monk can have food) & serve all other monks who did severe penance with fast. The other monks always criticized him for this weakness. (2) Once Kurgadu brought food & showed it to the other senior monks who severely contempt him and spat in the bowl containing rice. Yet Kurgadu praised the monks penance. He went on repenting himself from heart and while eating he attained Supreme Knowledge (Kewal Gyan). (3) Knowing about Kurgadu s Kewal Gyan the other monks asked for forgiveness & repented severely. They too received supreme knowledge (Kewal Gyan). MAITARYA (Kindness and Forgiveness) (1) Prince of the King, nephew & the son of the brahmin used to harass and beat the Monks. To save him from such sins, the Monk (uncle of the prince) went there to seek food. The Monk danced when they asked him to do so. Taking out nephews mistake in the music, The Monk punished them by removing the connection of the bones. They started crying in pain. The King pleaded the Monk to relieve his nephews of this pain. The Monk agreed, only if the nephews would renounce this world. The Monk cured both of them. (2) The Monk made both of them Monks. The son of the Head Brahmin said Its good to become Monk and religious but the Guru should not force for it. He hated the uncleanness in the Monk s life. Due to this disrespect for Guru, he became a sweeper named Maitarya in next birth in heaven and for many years he didn t even wish to renounce the world. (3)The Deity who had promised to forcibly make Maitarya a Monk made him to renounce the world. Once Maitarya went to a goldsmith for food. There he saw a bird eating golden grain. The goldsmith may kill the bird for the golden grain. So he didn t tell the truth. (4) The goldsmith thought that Maitarya was thief in Monks clothes and hence he caught him and tied wet leather straps on his head and made him stand out in Sun. As the leather dried it got tighter and tighter, until his eyes rolled out of his head. He tolerated and attained tranquil death and attained the Supreme Knowledge.
17 [17] JAMBU SWAMI (Keval Gyan) (1) Bhavdev (Jambu Swami in his previous birth) was brought before Guruji by his brother (who was a monk) and without even asking the newly wed Bhavdev, told Guruji that Bhavdev desired to renounce the world. (2) Due to the brotherly modesty, Bhavdev actually renounced the world and also practiced monkshood. Only after his brother died, he came back to his village in search of his wife Nagila. (3) Nagila understood her husband s worldly desire and calm him down in his monk life. Bhavdev continued to live as a monk and after death he attained heavenly life. (4) In his next life, he became a prince Shivkumar, on seeing a monk, he deeply felt the indifference to the world and was inspired to renounce the world but his parents refused. Therefore, he started to fast for two days followed by an Ayambil (one meal a day made without oil, ghee, butter, milk and curd). Thereafter, he fasted until death and took birth in heaven. (5) In his next birth, he was born as Jambu Kumar, who herd Sudharma Swami s sermons and felt the transitory nature of the world and he decided to renounce the world. (6) But his parents insisted on him to get married. At his very first wedding night Jambu Kumar argued with his 8 wives how monkshood is a door to Moksha and convinced them to renounce the world. This discussion was overheard by the 500 thieves. Thieves realised the detachment to wealth. All of them (Jambu Kumar, his parents, his wives, their parents and all thieves) totaling to 527 persons, renounced the world and became Jain monks. Jambu Swami received Supreme Knowledge (Keval Gyan) and attained Moksha.
18 [18] NAL DAMYANTI (Monk Torture) (1) Damyanti, in her previous birth, while hunting with her husband got a Jain Monk caught by her servants and tortured him. (2) After about 5 hours, she realized and repented over her folly. She apologized to the Monk and brought him home and served him. (3) She put tilak made out of jewels on the foreheads of all the idols and therefore in her next birth as Damyanti, she was born with a natural glow on her forehead. (4) After life in heaven in their next birth they born as shepherds. They held an umbrella over a Monk when it was raining. (5) Later they offered milk to the Monk. (6) Both renounced the world and embraced monkshood. While Damyanti was sleeping her husband Nal, left her in the jungle and went away. (7) Damyanti worshipped God Shantinath everyday with fast in a cave. (8) Nal s father who had became a deity disguised himself as a snake and bit Nal, which changed his appearance. He gave him some clothes, a coconut and an ornamental box so as to help him return to his original self. (9) Nal went to Damyanti s Swayamvar (competition for wedding) along with Dadhiparna. (10) He cooked food using solar energy, due to which Damyanti recognized him. (11) Nal changed back to his original self. Bhimrath retuned the kingdom to Nal. In gamble, Nal even won back his own kingdom from Kuber. Nal and Damyanti renounced the world and left for heavens.
19 [19] SUDARSHAN SETH (Firm in Character) (1) Kapila with trick and fraud called Sudarshan home and urged for sensual pleasure. He replied I am impotent and thus escaped from there. (2) On the excuse of a statue, the maidservant picks Sudarshan who was in meditation and brought him. Because of Sudarshan's firmness and after being helpless, the Queen screams falsely that she was raped. (3) Hearing this, the King orders death punishment to the meditating Sudarshan. However, given the strong and pure character of Sudarshan, he got help of power of Deities and the rope used for hanging him turned into a throne. He got more respect and honour from the King. The truth gets spilled out and the blemished character of Sudarshan is cleared and penance of Manorama comes to an end. (4) Due to overpowering of Yaksha (Deity) in his body, Arjunmali (shown as demon in picture) used to kill 6 men and 1 woman daily for many years. (5) When Arjunmali came to kill Sudarshan, he heard chanting of Navkar from Sudarshan. As a result, Yaksha came out of Arjunmali s body. Arjunmali falls on his feet and along with Sudarshan goes to Samavsaran of God. (6) Arjunmali renounced the world. All the relatives and loved ones of those whom Arjunmali had killed, beat him up. He tolerated the beating with patience due to which he received Supreme Knowledge (Keval Gyan) and Moksha. Sudarshan also renounced the world. The Queen who had became witch, tortured Sudarshan but he tolerated everything smilingly and attained Moksha.
20 [20] NANDISHEN (Server of the Monks) (1) Nandishen was so ugly that not even one out of the seven daughters of his maternal Uncle agreed to marry him. (2) A Jain Monk saved him when he tried to commit suicide due to his ugliness. Nandishen renounced the world and vowed to fast for two days followed by Ayambil & fast for two days again and to look after other Monks till death. To test this quality of Nandishen, two Deities came down in disguise as Monks. One of the Monk contemptuously told Nandishen to look after the weak Monk (second Disguised Deity). Nandishen goes there. (3) The weak Monk rebuked Nandishen. Nandishen cleaned his urine and excreta and made the Monk to sit on his back. (4) While carrying the monk on his back, Nandishen walked slowly so as not to hurt the Monk. The Monk often urinated and excreted on his back, yet, Nandishen bore it gracefully with patience. (5) Both the Deities, who were disguised as Monks, appeared before him and apologized and praised Nandishen. (6) Nandishen undertook Anshan (fast until death) and did Niyana (Strong desire for worldly wishes other than Moksha) to become (Stree Vallabh- Liked by many women) and left for his heavenly abode. He became Krishna's father Vasudev and attained Moksha.
21 [21] KING SHRENIK S SON NANDISHEN (Love for Monk ship) (1) In his previous birth, Prince Nandishen, was a worker where food was cooked for the Brahmins and would then take whatever was left. (2) He served that food to the Monks. (3) After becoming a Jain Monk, he did not want to fall victim to passions, lust emotions and to break the vows of Monkshood. He tried to commit suicide where the Sashan Devi (A Lady Deity) saved him. (4) He went to the house of a prostitute for food. There he plucked a blade of glass and brought rainfall of gold. The prostitute captured him and kept him for 12 years. (5) He vowed to give sermons and convince 10 persons every day to renounce this world. (6) One day, 9 persons were ready to renounce world but the tenth wouldn t, therefore, Nandishen kept giving his sermons. When called for food by the lady, he said that, the 10th is not getting ready to renounce the world, the lady jokingly said Nandishen that why does not he become the 10th person himself. Therefore, he renounced the world and became a Jain Monk again at the feet of God Mahavir and went to heaven.
22 [22] HEMCHANDRACHARYA (Propagator of Jainism) (1) Born: 1145 Vikram Era (VE), Name: Chang Dev. Renounced world in 1154VE. Monk name: Som Dev: Became Acharya Hemchandra Suri 1166VE. (2) Amidst a congregation of scholars, Hemchandra Suriji by mistake said, that it was a full moon night instead of a no moon night. When he realized his mistake, he went into meditation. In the evening the Shashan Devi (A Lady Deity) miraculously showed the world a full moon in the sky. (3) Devbodhi showed Kumarpal - the King of Patan his past 7 generations to make him a believer of Shiva. At that time Hemchandracharya sat on 7 stools (seats) and had one stool (seat) removed after another and still remained suspended in the air and preached his sermons. (4) During the monsoons, the king of Turkey attacked Kumarpal, who had vowed not to leave Patan. Hemchandracharya with his spiritual powers brought the King of Turkey along with his bed to Kumarpal in Upashray (a building where Jain monks stay). Kumarpal and Turkey King became friends. (5) Hemchandracharya got many books like (SiddhHem Grammar etc) written on palm leaves (in those days those were used for writing scripts). (6) In 1229 VE, Hemchandra passed away. (7) In lure of be coming the chief after the death of Hemchandracharya, the traitor Monk Balchandra poisoned the mind of Ajaypal that Kumarpal will give the kingdom to Pratapmal. And advises him to poison Kumarpal. (8) King Ajaypal orders Monk Ramchandra, to give leadership to Balchandra, or he should get ready to lie on a bed of hot iron. Monk Ramchandra followed the orders of his Guru and he sacrificed his life but did not make Balchandra the chief and reached heaven.
23 [23] PARMARHAT (THE GREAT SHRAVAK- FOLLOWER OF JAINISM) King Kumarpal (Kind to all creatures) (1) Kumarpal in his previous birth as Jaytak- a brave who troubled the subjects was exiled from the kingdom by the king on being told by his father. (2) In the forest, he scolded a Jain Monk. But after hearing the sermons of the Monk, he vowed to leave the 7 deadly sins. (3) With flowers bought of 5 pence (Kodi), he worshipped the God. (4) In the birth as Kumarpal, he accepts 12 different rules of conduct of Shravak (Jain follower) from Guru Hemchandracharya. (5) In kingdom of Kumarpal even the water given to the horses was filtered using a cotton cloth. (6) King Kumarpal would clean the saddle with his dupatta (a scarf) so that he does not kill any living organisms when he sits. (7) During his Samayik (vow to live as a Jain Monk for 48 minutes), he saw a big black ant on his lap; with the fear that it may die he would not pick it & throw it but would scoop a bit of his flesh and gently lay the ant!!! (8) In his 18 provinces, he proclaimed non-violence. (9) When a Deity asked for a sacrifice of an animal, Kumarpal refused, which angered the Deity and made him a leper. But with the grace of Guru Hemchandracharya, the disease was cured. (10) Once he ordered his brother-in-law, who killed lice, to build a Jain temple as a price for his sins. (11) Palm leaves were used to write Agams. Once there was shortage of leaves. Therefore King Kumarpal worshipped Palm trees and they turned into Tad trees miraculously. (12) Ajaypal poisons Kumarpal and threatened the treasurer and took away the keys so that Kumarpal could not even get a precious stone that can cure poisoned Kumarpal. (13) After Kumarpal s death, Ajaypal became the king and destroyed many Jain temples. Due to this sin he went to hell along with traitor Monk Balchandra.
24 [24] VAJRA (Propagator of Jainism) (1) Dhangiri left his pregnant wife to renounced the world and became a Jain Monk. (2) When the child was born, he heard about his father s renouncement, which made him recollect his previous birth. He kept troubling his mother by weeping all the time, so that his mother is fed up of him and will easily let him renounce world. (3) Sick of her crying son, the mother donated him to monk Dhangiriji who gave him to nuns (Sadhvijis) for upbringing. (4) The son carefully listened to the Agam Granthas (Book of Jain scripts) from the nuns and learnt the eleven (Angas) in the cradle. (5) After finding that the child is calm and happy, the mother came back to the Dhannaji to take her son back. (6) When Dhannaji declined to return the son to the mother, she complaint to the King. The King asked to fetch the child and let child decide with whom he wants to stay. The child went to Dhangiriji. Seeing this Dhangiriji immediately gave Diksha (Renouncement of World) to his son who was named Vajra Swami. (7) In a drought prone area, Vajra Swami carried his community of people (monks and religious men and women) to a prosperous land through the sky. (8) There, the people against the Jain religion did not permit the Jains to offer flowers for worship of God. Vajra Swami brought millions of flowers from sky and thus spread the praise and fame of Jainism. (9) When Vajra Swami realized that his death was near, he went to Mount Rathavarta and fasted there with meditation for a month and went to heaven.
25 [25] RAMAYANA (1) (Obeying father s word) (1) Queen Kaikai put garland around King Dashrath so all kings became his enemies and they fought with him. Kaikai was King Dashrath s Charioteer during the battle. King Dashrath won the battle and happily asked what she want as Vardan (boon) she said, At appropriate time she would ask for the boon. (2) Later she asked the crown for his son Bharat and sentence 14 years exile for Ram (Dasharath s eldest son), his wife Sita and Laxman (Ram s brother). (3) Bharat and Kaikai, later pleaded Ram to return back to Ayodhya. (4) When Ravana was abducted Sita on his way to Lanka, Jatayu (Eagle) pecked Ravana. Angrily Ravana cut the wings of Jatayu, resulting in its death. (5) Seeing injured Jatayu taking his last breath, Ram came to know about Sita s abduction. (6) Hanuman gave Ram s ring to Sita in Lanka, upon which she broke her fast after 21days. (7) Hanuman created havoc in Lanka, crushed Ravana s crown, and set Lanka on fire and came back.
26 [26] RAMAYANA (2) (Ego and Effect of Penance) (1) Hanuman gave Sita s bangles to Ram. (2) Vibhishan was contempt by Indrajeet, when he requested the release of Sita. (3) Vibhishan seeks shelter of Ram. (4) Laxman (the Vasudev) and Ravana (the Prati Vasudev) fought fiercely. (5) Due to Ravana s super natural power, Amogh Vijaya, Laxman becomes unconscious and is saved by the touch of Vishalya, who did a lot of penance in her previous birth. (6) Ravana s (Vidya Sadhana), Mandodari s keen watch, and Ravana s threat to have sex with Sita renders her unconscious. Ravana s repentance. (7) Laxman's spherical weapon (Chakra) kills Ravana. Shame on ego, and on crave for lust. (8) With 1,000 kings, Bharat renounced the world and attained the Supreme Knowledge (Keval Gyan).
27 [27] KAURAVA AND PANDAVA (Gamble - Renouncement) (1) Draupadi, in her previous birth, had offered a Jain Monk bitter and poisonous gourd vegetable. (2)The Monk, in order to protect lives of living organisms from eating and dying, ate it all by himself and died and attained the heavenly birth. (3) Killing of the monk resulted in Draupadi s roaming (taking birth after birth) in the world for infinite times. She was deserted twice by her two husbands, because her body was like a flame of fire. (4) She renounced world and did penance in the scorching heat. At that time she saw a prostitute enjoying with 5 men. She desired strongly to have 5 men in her next birth. As a result of her severe penance, her wishes came true in the next birth of Draupadi and she got five husbands. (5) Draupadi even though put a garland around Arjun, but appeared as if put around 5 Pandavas. Naradji conveyed and told about her Niyana in her earlier birth. (6) Duryodhan was mocked by the Pandavas, when he lifted his Cloths, because he thought there was water but actually it is crystal marble. (7) Pandavas lost kingdom and even Draupadi in gamble while Duryodhan won. (8) Amidst the full of courtroom, Draupadi was stripped off her saree by Dushashan. (9) Kichak s murder. (10) Deity intimated injured Bhishma, on the battlefield, the time for him to depart the world. (11) Naradji was not respected by Draupadi because of his vow less life style. (12) As a result, upset Naradji got Draupadi abducted by the king of Amar Kanka. (13) Krishna was enraged when Pandavas did not send the boat and banished them out of the kingdom. (14) Kunti, Draupadi and the Pandavas renounced the world and became Jain Monks. (15) Due to severe penance Draupadi went to heaven and the rest attained Moksha at Sidhdhachal the holy hills of Jains.
28 [28] 12TH OF THE NEXT 24 TIRTHANKARS Shri Krishna (1) Krishna was a snake killer in his previous birth. (2) In next birth the female snake becomes mother and Krishna becomes his son Gangadutta. He is thrown by her in the garbage. (3) Gangadutta renounced the world. He resolute Niyana (Strong desire for worldly wishes) to be loved by all. He died and goes to heaven. (4) Devaki s seventh child was Shri Krishna. (5) Ketumanjari s father asked her to decide between being a Queen or maid. She decided to be a maid and she was married to a weaver. She did not do any housework so the weaver beat her. She complains her father, she renounces the world. (6) Drunken Shyam and others beat Dweepayan. Dweepayan resolute Niyana and becomes Deity Agni Kumar and put Dwarika city on fire. (7) Bharat told his 98 brothers, Take your own kingdoms given by me and live under my order. 98 brothers came to God Rushabhdev to say We will fight. Rushabhdev delivered sermons to them to shed Kashay (passions like Anger, Ego and Greed) along with total nonviolence. Upon hearing this sermons all the 98 brothers renounced the world. (8) Krishna advises Arjun in the Bhagawatgeeta to indulge in war with brothers Kauravas, Guru and friends with Kashay and follow his warrior roots and instincts (Kshatriya Dharma). He said, If you do not do that you will bring disrespect to your religion, disgrace to your self and commit sins. (9) Dwarika is burning. (10) In the absence of Baldev, Jara Kumar shot an arrow under the illusion that there was a deer in the bush. Krishna died. (11) Monk Balram reached heaven by severe penance. A carpenter who offered alms with lofty heart to Baldeva, reached heaven and a deer by watching all this and praising also reached heaven. At this time half cut huge branch of a tree fell killing all three.
29 [29] RAMAYANA (3) (Greed for Fame -Detachment) (1) Sita dreamt of a 8-legged two deer s and thereafter she became pregnant. (2) Disguised Ram heard a launderer rebuke his wife and came to know about people suspecting Sita s character and he left Sita. (3) Upon the request of King Vasragangh, Sita went to his house and gave birth to 2 sons, Lavanankush and Madanankush. (4) Naradji introduces both to Ram and Laxman when they came to the battlefield. (5) Sita s test for purity and virtuousness. She renounced world and becomes Sitendra, the Indra of the 12th heaven. (6) Seeing the sunset Hanuman became detached and along with his two wives and 750 kings renounced the world and attained Moksha. (7) Ram renounced the world and attained Avadhi Gyan (the knowledge beyond sense organs). Sitendra try to astray him from his meditation but fails to Muni Ram. (8) Monk Ram attains Supreme Knowledge. Replying to Sitendra Ram says Ravan and Laxman presently in the 4th hell would become Tirthankars (God) in the future. Sitendra would become in future a Ganadhar, principle disciple of Tirthankar Ravana. (9) To bring both Laxman and Ram to heaven, Sitendra went to 4th hell where they were undergoing a lot of pain and being shattered like mercury.nts
BEST REGARDS:-
ASHOK SHAH & EKTA SHAH2 [2] SHALIBHADRA (Detachment) (1) After the death of Noble Shalibhadra s father, he became a heavenly deity and started sending 99 boxes of heavenly food, clothes and ornaments daily to Shalibhadra. Despite such affluence, when Shalibhadra heard once from his mother that King Shrenik is our master ; he developed the sense of detachment and he decided to renounce the world. Every day, he started leaving his wives one after the other. (2) Shalibhadra s sister Subhadra was the wife of Dhannaji. While she was bathing her husband, out of love for brother Shalibhadra, she started crying. Dhannaji asked reason for crying, she told him about Shalibhadra s abandoning his wife one after the other. Dhannaji remarked What a coward!! If he wants to renounce the world, then why not leave all the wives at one go? Subhadra replied, It s easier too said than done. Dhannaji immediately left the house and went to call Shalibhadra. (3) Dhannaji told Shalibhadra If you want to renounce then both of us renounce the world today itself. (4) Both went to God Mahavir and be-came Monks and thereafter underwent rigorous penance. (5) When Shalibhadra was going for alms-bhiksha, Lord Mahavir told him that today he would receive Bhiksha from his mother. When he reached the palace none could recognize him because of his frail body. While returning empty handed, he happened to meet a milkmaid who was his mother in his previous birth. Out of motherly love, she offered him curd. (6) He fasted on Mount Vaibhavgiri till death and left for heavenly abode (Anuttarviman). Hearing this, his mother moaned and cried for him. King Shrenik consoled and calmed her down and saluted her for being a mother of a great monk. Bravo to renouncing of all the riches by Shalibhadra!!!
3 [3] DHANNA (KAKANDI) (Renunciation and Penance) (1) Dhanyakumar, the son of Bhadra due to his good deeds in his past life, was born in Kakandi and was owner of 320 million Gold pallets. With the blessing of mother, he was leading a luxurious life happily with his 32 wives. (2) One day after listening to the sermons of God Mahavir, Dhannaji decided to renounce world and became a monk. Thereafter he started fasting until death. (Two fasts followed by Ayambil followed by fasts for two days.) What a fortune! Though he enjoyed luxurious life but he had no attachment in such riches and he had no trouble in leaving behind such riches & worldly pleasures and his 32 wives at one stroke. He also gave up attachment for his body rather easily. (3) Even on the 3rd day of the week, when he ate, he ate undernourished, unpalatable and tasteless food (even flies would not like to sit on that food.) (4) Within 8 months, Dhanna s body was dried up by fasting. (5) Replying to King Shrenik, God Mahavir told that Dhanyakumar was one of the great in 14,000 monks who is always progressing on the spiritual path. The King immediately went to the Hill to pay his respects to Dhannaji. The real wealth of the soul is renunciation and penance and before whom even the Kings and heavenly Deities bow their head. Dhannaji fasted for a month on the mount Vaibhavgiri and left for heavenly abode (Anuttarviman). Bravo to Dhannaji and immense praises to his severe penance and detachment towards the material world!!!
4 [4] PUNYA SHRAVAK (Content and Religious Devotion) (1) In the province of Rajgrahi, a religious Jain named Punya was living with his wife. Due to his misfortune he could not earn more than 12 and half penny a day. (2) This little income was sufficient for two of them. But, one of them fasts on alternate day to offer food to Sadharmik (fellow Jain) with the sense of reverence. (3) Even though they were poor, they worshipped God every day with little they had and were quite satisfied. They lived by the philosophy of Content is the real virtue of the Soul. Hence they would remain occupied in religious thoughts and would carry out Samayik (to sit for 48 minutes for religious activity as shown in the pictures) with equanimity. (4) Once King Shrenik asked God Mahavir How could he avoid going to hell God Mahavir replied If you can obtain the fruits of one Samayik of Punya then you can abstain from going to hell. (5) The King met Punya and asked him to give the fruits of his one Samayik to him. Punya replied You can t get the fruits of Samayik with money. Ask God that is it possible to give the fruits of Samayik? When asked, God replied, Even if you stake up the entire riches of all Kingdoms, the value of one Samayik can not be compared, because the kingdom is materialistic and mortal while Samayik is spiritual and immortal and the image of soul, therefore one cannot even compare it with anything. Oh! what a satisfaction and self-content of Punya Shravak despite severe poverty! Praises to the virtuous Punya!
5 [5] MEGH KUMAR (Kind to all Creatures) (1) Megh Kumar, the son of King Shrenik was an elephant in his previous birth and lived in a forest. With the sense of fear of forest fires, the elephant cleared ants, grass and trees. Unfortunately, one day a fire broke out in the forest. The elephant reached that place and all the other animals also took shelter in that ground area. It got very crowded. The elephant raised his leg to scratch his body at that very moment a rabbit took refuge in the space where the elephant s leg was. To save the rabbit, the elephant kept his leg up in the air and balanced his body on three legs for two and a half days continuously. (2) When the fire subsided and all the animals left, the elephant tried to put his leg down but it was so numb that he couldn t balance himself and fell. He died of pain and starvation. (3) Due to the fruits of kindness towards the rabbit, in its next birth, the elephant took birth as Prince Megh Kumar. After listening to the sermons of God Mahavir, he decided to renounce the world. King Shrenik offered him crown, at once Megh Kumar asked for, Rajoharan- (a means for protecting leaving creatures), Patra (begging bowls) and Monk s robes (4) He left his palace, kingdom, and all his worldly pleasures and God Mahavir gave him Diksha (monkshood). (5) When he learnt about his previous birth of elephant and its kindness from God Mahavir, he was inspired and gave up all the attachment for his body. He went on Anshan (to fast without food and water until death). (6) With highly virtuous mental state, his soul left his body and became Deity in Anuttar heaven, the highest heavenly kingdom. Salutes to Megh Kumar.
6 [6] EMPEROR SAMPRATI (Worship to Jinendra, God) 1.Emperor Samprati, in previous birth was a hunger stricken beggar.the beggar saw some Jain Monks with food and begged them for food.the Monks replied, Only our Guru (Head of monks) is entitled to this food. Therefore, the beggar followed the Monks to their Guru. (2)Guru Shri Arya Suhasti Suriji upon seeing the inner property of the beggar and due to his foresight made the beggar a Jain Monk. Guru fed him well as per his desire. But, that very night, due to over eating the beggar had loose motions and vomiting and all the other Monks looked after him. Singing praises of the Charitrya (Monks life) the monk passed away. (3) In his next birth, the same beggar took birth as Samprati, the grandson of King Ashoka and the King of Ujjain. One day, when he saw the Guru - the same Guruji of his previous birth, he immediately recollected his past life. Humbly, he fell on the feet of the Guruji and asked him to take his kingdom and free him from the obligation. Guruji replied, Kingdoms don t suit Monks, use your fortunes to propagate and spread the cause of Jain religion. (4) Hence King Samprati opened Daan Shalas (donation houses). (5) He constructed various Jain temples and handsomely rewarded even those who informed him about construction of new Jain temple daily. (6) Construction of temples making of idols is going on salutes to the Great Samprati (spreader of Jain Religion) and to his God & Guru devotion. (7) King Samprati utilized all his resources to make in all 1,25,000 temples and 1,25,00,000 idols of Jain Gods. Even today these idols are worshipped at various places.
7 [7] EMPEROR SANAT KUMAR (Right Faith - Samyaktva) Emperor Sanat, in previous birth, was a staunch Jain having Right Faith.Once a saint (of false faith) got angry on Sanat, as he did not respect him. The saint with his devotee s (a king) help got very hot food served on Sanat Kumar s back and ate. Sanat Kumar had to suffer a lot and his back was full of boils. (1) After this he decided to renounce this materialistic world and his mortal body and meditated in every direction for 15 days each. Carnivorous birds kept eating flesh from his back, yet he did not break his meditation. (2) With absolute equanimity his soul left his body and he became the heavenly King of Deities, Indra. (3) Later he was reborn as a very handsome Chakravarti (a great emperor of the whole world), named Sanat Kumar.Two Deities in the disguise of Brahmins came to see the handsomeness of Sanat and were spellbound seeing his beauty while he was bathing. Hearing praise for him, Sanat became proud of his beauty and asked the Deities to see him in his grandeur, beauty and glory at his courtyard when he enthroned. (4) The Brahmins came and all they could see was a Sanat s body infected with 16 types of diseases, and they frowned with disgust. On asking the reason, the Deities said Don t be so proud you ugly and diseased man!! Immediately Sanat spat in the spittoon and realized that diseases had infected him. (5) He immediately renounced the world and became a monk. But for 6 months repeatedly his family followed and requested him to return, but Monk Sanat did not even look at them. (6) He did severe penance for 700 years with his diseased body, which got completely cured in his organic matter turning into anti- disease. The same Deities came in disguised as doctors to cure him. Great Monk Sanat with his own spit cured his diseased finger and showed them his lustrous finger. These Deities were amazed at this sight and the powers of penance. They bowed down in respect. Monk Sanat said Diseases are sin killers and hence our friends so, why stop it? He fostered Monkshood for 100,000 years and accomplished welfare of soul. Bravo to his firmness!!
8 [8] MAHASATI SITAJI (Glory of Pure Character) (1) King Ravana, abducting Sita persuaded her for sensual pleasure. He lured her by giving jewelry. Mandodari and all other queens of Ravana agreed to be the servants of Sitaji, yet Sitaji refused and believed that it was a sin even to see Ravana. Bravo to such a virtuous woman!! (2) Sita s husband King Rama defeated Ravana and got back Sita untouched to Ayodhya. But people pointed finger at her character. Hence, Ram left Sita, who was pregnant at that time, in the forest. She sent a message O revered one, misguided by the words of people you abandoned me, in the same way if you abandon true Jain religion you will never attain the Moksha What a nobility!! (3) Sita s sons Lav and Kush, when came to know of their mother s pitiable situation, they decided to wage war against his father Ram. Ram loses and was shocked but felt very happy when he came to know that they were actually his sons. To remove the doubts in the mind of the people of Ayodhya, Ram asked Sita to go through the Test of Flames. But by Sita s holy character even the Flames couldn t touch her and became a pond of water and Sita remained seated on a large scented lotus. (4) Ram, Laxman Lav and Kush repeatedly requested Sitaji to return to the Palace. But knowing the uncertainty of relations and hardship of Karmas, Sitaji renounced the worldly life and plucked out her long and beautiful hair from head and became a monk. Seeing this, Ram was unconscious. She left her two lion like sons, her husband and the life of a Queen and started penance and fasting. She became the King of 12th heaven in the next birth. Praises to Sitaji!!
9 [9] MONK STHULIBHADRAJI (Conquer of Lust) (1) Sthulibhadra was offered ministerial ring by King Nand to become a Minister, though he stayed for 12 years with a prostitute named Kosha. He said, I will think over and take it. Think here only! said the King. (2) Sthulibhadra thought, being a minister would mean entangled in worldly bondages and therefore decided to decline the offer and renounced the world to become a monk. (3) Conveying Dharmalabh (blessings of Jain monk) Sthulibhadra left. The King tested Monk Sthulibhadra. But the King was astonished to see the detachment. Sthulibhadra ceremoniously took Diksha from Guru Arya Sambhuti.(4) He studied 14 Purvas under the guidance of Bhadrabahu Swami. With Guru s permission, he decided to go and stay for four months of monsoon (Chaturmas) to the palace of the prostitute Kosha to conquer lust. The prostitute lured him with sensual music, dance and food, but she was ultimately dejected. (5) Seeing the determination of penance, the prostitute heard his sermon and decided to undertake 12 Vratas (oaths) of Shravika (woman follower of Jain religion). (6). One Monk fasted (without food and water) for 4 months of the monsoon at the mouth of a den of a ferocious lion. (7) One Monk fasted 4 months of the monsoon outside the hole of a vicious and poisonous snake. (8) One Monk fasted for 4 months of the monsoon on the edge of the well. (9) When all these 4 monks came back after their four months rigorous religious activity, the Guru greeted the three monks calling their work Dushkar karak (performers of difficult tasks) and monk Sthulibhadra as Dushkar Dushkar karak. (performer of the most difficult tasks). Infinite salutes to the monk Sthulibhadra whose name would remain immortal for 84 Chovisi (1 Chovisi = era of 24 Tirthankars -Gods).
10 [10] GENEROUS JAGADU SHAH (Generosity) (1) In Vikram Samvat 14th Century, Jagdu Shah, a gentlemen of Kutch was told by a Jain monk that in future there would be a severe drought, and the Jain monk told him to donate food grains and make good use of his money. Jagadu Shah had utmost faith in the monk and believed his words completely. The imagination of the hungry faces of all drought-stricken people appeared before his eyes. (2) Before the drought, for many years, Jagadu Shah collected and stored huge amount of grain in granaries all over Kutch and Gujarat. When drought struck the region, he donated all the grains to the needy. (3) At that time even Gujarat s King Vishaldev s granaries had no grains. Therefore even the King asked him for some grain. But he said that the grain was meant for the poor and the needy. Hearing this the King was shocked and appreciated Jagadu Shah s generosity, kindness and humility. (4) Later, ocean of Auchintya (One who knows what is right under difference circumstances) Jagadu Shah, gave grains to the King as he believed that donation is the foundation of religion and even more, donation of food makes your foe, your friend. Centuries have passed but yet his name is amongst one of the most generous men. Bravo Jagadu Shah!!
11 [11] MAHATMA GAJSUKUMAL (1) Father Vasudev, mother Devaki, brother Krishna and many other Kings of small kingdoms were eagerly waiting for Gajsukumal. While they all saw Gajsukumal returning from his Merriment, everyone was thrilled. Oh! What a respect! What a glory! And absolutely no trace of any worry or troubles of the world. (2) Gajsukumal was already engaged but renounced the worldly life after hearing the sermons of God Neminath. (3) After renouncement Gajsukumal took consent of God Neminath and went to a graveyard to meditate. His father-in-law, Saumil, in anger, put a stove on Gajsukumal s head and fired woods of graveyard. But Gajsukumal with his phenomenal equinity did not felt anything thinking that What is burning (body) is not mine and what is mine (soul) can not burn. He stood still, thinking that the burning wood might fell from his head and hurt living organisms on the ground. Despite his father-in-law s ghastly action, he did not developed any ill feelings for him and considered him helpful in facing and fighting his karmas (sins). With such thoughts, he died and attained Moksha (salvation of soul). (4) In the morning brother Krishna went to God Neminath. He asked, Where s Gajsukumal? God replied, When you enter the gates of the kingdom, the one you meet is the reason behind Gajsukumal s salvation. Hearing this Krishna went to the city to punish the murderer of Monk Gajsukumal. (5) Soumil saw Krishna entering the gates of the city. With fear Soumil's heart failed. The Sin committer died of his own sins.
12 [12] GREAT GURU SHRI HIRSURIJI & EMPEROR AKBAR (Observance of Non-Violence) (1) In Delhi, Jain Shravika, named Champa had fasted 6 months. When this news reached the Emperor Akbar, he was surprised. He asked Champa, How could she fast for so long? Champa replied, With the grace of God Mahavir and Guruji Shri Vijay Hir Suriji. Hearing this Emperor Akbar was keen to meet her great Guru. (2) Accepting Akbar s invitation Acharyadev Hir Suriji walked bare foot from Gujarat to Delhi to meet the Emperor. Guruji was welcomed with great pomp and glory in Delhi. But while entering the Palace, Guruji suddenly stopped, as he saw a carpet. When Akbar asked why, he replied, There may be small insects under the carpet and if he walks on it, they may die. So it is against our religion to walk on carpet. Emperor Akbar, in disbelief, got the carpet lifted and to his utter shock, there were ants under the carpet. Emperor Akbar was spellbound with the knowledge of Guruji and his religion. (3) Emperor Akbar gracefully requested Guruji to seek some thing to which Guruji said, During all the 8 days of Paryushan (the most religious festival of Jain), there should be no violence towards any living being in India. The law was passed for this and a copy of the enacted law was sent to Guruji as gift. (4) Emperor Akbar was addicted to eat half a pound of tongue of sparrow daily and therefore he was breeding sparrows at Dabur pond. (5) Due to the Guru s Sermons of non-violence, Akbar set free all the birds and turned over a new leaf in his life by accepting non-violence (Lover of Jeevdaya). What a spiritual sermon! (6) Hearing the sermons of Guruji, Akbar stopped collecting tax from Mount Shatrunjay (the eternal and most a holy pilgrimage of Jain) and Jajiya -a tax on Hindu. (7) He spread the word of non-violence in his kingdom.
13 [13] AVANTI SUKUMAL (Sacrifice) (1) Once Arya Suhastiji was revising the lesson of Nalini Gulma at a horses stable late in the night. Avanti heard this recital and remembered his past life. (2) He renounced the world and became a Jain Monk. At night he took anshan (fasting until death) and started meditating in the graveyard. There, his previous birth s wife, a vixen (fox s female) started eating his legs and reached his stomach. He died with samadhi (high level of peace of mind) and reached Nalinigulm a heavenly home. When Avanti s present births mother and his wives came to know about his death they wept bitterly. (3)They completed the burial ceremonies. (4)They reached the Guru and listened to his sermons. (5). All of them, except one (who was pregnant) of his wife, renounced world. (6) The pregnant wife gave birth to a son. A temple of Avanti Parshvanath (23rd Tirthankara-God) was constructed at a place where Avantisukumal was buried.
14 [14] ATIMUKTAK (AIMATTA) (Severe Repenting) (1) Atimuktak was a 6 year-old child, who offered Ganadhar Gautam Swami (the first disciple of God Mahavir) sweets (Laddus). (2) Atimuktak goes with Gautam Swami. Seeing the weight that Gautam Swami was carrying, he offered to carry the patras (wooden vessels of Jain monk). Gautam Swami said, Only when you become a Jain monk, you can carry patras (3) Hence, Atimuktak renounced the world and became a Jain monk at the age of 6. Once, he went out to answer a natures call to a quiet place. There, he saw rainwater flowing. He built a small portion of mud and he floated his patra as a boat and started playing and screaming in joy. Other monks asked him to stop. The monks reported this incidence to God Mahavir, How will this cage less child ever (who is killer of living organisms in water) observe non-violence. God replies, Don t disregard this child. He will achieve the supreme knowledge (Keval Gyan) before all of you. Hearing this the monks apologized. (4) One day, Atimuktak saw other children playing in the water with boats made out of leaves. It reminded of his previous play and how he had committed sin. (5) Reciting Iriyavahiya sutra (repenting the killing of living organisms) in Samavasaran (place of God s address), he attained the supreme knowledge (Keval Gyan) and Moksha at the tender age of 9 due to heartfelt repenting.
15 [15] ELAICHI KUMAR (One who sees fault in himself) (1) Once a Brahmin and his wife renounced the world and became Jain monks. His wife kept her body and clothes clean and felt proud of her caste. (2) As a fruit of being a Jain monk both became deities of heaven. (3) In their third birth they became a Prince Elaichi Kumar and a dancer respectively. One day, watching the Girl dancing, Elaichi got attracted to her. His parents and relatives tried to explain him but he left with her & learnt dancing. (4) In another city, the lady dancer and Elaichi Kumar performed a dance on a rope before the King, Queen & many other people of the city. They kept dancing expecting money from the King. But the King got attracted to the girl dancer and thought, if Elaichi Kumar falls off the rope and die, so that he could have girl dancer. (5) While dancing on the rope, Elaichi Kumar saw a very serene & composed Jain monk receiving food from a beautiful girl but monk refrained from even looking at the girl. Elaichi Kumar felt ashamed of himself and started hating on his longing for lust. He admired the calm composure of this monk & attained Supreme Knowledge (Kewal Gyan). He gave sermons.the girl dancer hearing about her previous birth, she hated her beauty that brings disaster. King & his Queen also repented their desire for worldly pleasures. All attained Keval Gyan. KING MUNJ (Female Voluptuousness) (1) King Munj was under the fear that Bhoj would take his kingdom and so ordered to kill Bhoj. On reading the Shlok written by Bhoj about uncertainty of kingdoms and its mortality, King Munj gives the Kingdom to Bhoj. (2) Defeated in war against Telang, Munj became a prisoner and gets attracted to Telang s sister Mrinalwati. (3) Bhoj made a tunnel to the prison and asked King Munj to escape through it. (4) Munj told his beloved Mrinalwati about his escape. She went and informed her brother King immediately. To punish him the King put fetters around his hands & legs and gave him orders to beg for food. Munj shouts and tells people so that they realize the result of craving for lust and women. Munj had to face such hardships and beg for food.
16 [16] KURGADU NAGDUTTA (Self introspection) (1) Kurgadu was a Jain monk who couldn t fast. He would take food & water at the time of Navkarshi (48 minutes after Sunrise which is the earliest time a monk can have food) & serve all other monks who did severe penance with fast. The other monks always criticized him for this weakness. (2) Once Kurgadu brought food & showed it to the other senior monks who severely contempt him and spat in the bowl containing rice. Yet Kurgadu praised the monks penance. He went on repenting himself from heart and while eating he attained Supreme Knowledge (Kewal Gyan). (3) Knowing about Kurgadu s Kewal Gyan the other monks asked for forgiveness & repented severely. They too received supreme knowledge (Kewal Gyan). MAITARYA (Kindness and Forgiveness) (1) Prince of the King, nephew & the son of the brahmin used to harass and beat the Monks. To save him from such sins, the Monk (uncle of the prince) went there to seek food. The Monk danced when they asked him to do so. Taking out nephews mistake in the music, The Monk punished them by removing the connection of the bones. They started crying in pain. The King pleaded the Monk to relieve his nephews of this pain. The Monk agreed, only if the nephews would renounce this world. The Monk cured both of them. (2) The Monk made both of them Monks. The son of the Head Brahmin said Its good to become Monk and religious but the Guru should not force for it. He hated the uncleanness in the Monk s life. Due to this disrespect for Guru, he became a sweeper named Maitarya in next birth in heaven and for many years he didn t even wish to renounce the world. (3)The Deity who had promised to forcibly make Maitarya a Monk made him to renounce the world. Once Maitarya went to a goldsmith for food. There he saw a bird eating golden grain. The goldsmith may kill the bird for the golden grain. So he didn t tell the truth. (4) The goldsmith thought that Maitarya was thief in Monks clothes and hence he caught him and tied wet leather straps on his head and made him stand out in Sun. As the leather dried it got tighter and tighter, until his eyes rolled out of his head. He tolerated and attained tranquil death and attained the Supreme Knowledge.
17 [17] JAMBU SWAMI (Keval Gyan) (1) Bhavdev (Jambu Swami in his previous birth) was brought before Guruji by his brother (who was a monk) and without even asking the newly wed Bhavdev, told Guruji that Bhavdev desired to renounce the world. (2) Due to the brotherly modesty, Bhavdev actually renounced the world and also practiced monkshood. Only after his brother died, he came back to his village in search of his wife Nagila. (3) Nagila understood her husband s worldly desire and calm him down in his monk life. Bhavdev continued to live as a monk and after death he attained heavenly life. (4) In his next life, he became a prince Shivkumar, on seeing a monk, he deeply felt the indifference to the world and was inspired to renounce the world but his parents refused. Therefore, he started to fast for two days followed by an Ayambil (one meal a day made without oil, ghee, butter, milk and curd). Thereafter, he fasted until death and took birth in heaven. (5) In his next birth, he was born as Jambu Kumar, who herd Sudharma Swami s sermons and felt the transitory nature of the world and he decided to renounce the world. (6) But his parents insisted on him to get married. At his very first wedding night Jambu Kumar argued with his 8 wives how monkshood is a door to Moksha and convinced them to renounce the world. This discussion was overheard by the 500 thieves. Thieves realised the detachment to wealth. All of them (Jambu Kumar, his parents, his wives, their parents and all thieves) totaling to 527 persons, renounced the world and became Jain monks. Jambu Swami received Supreme Knowledge (Keval Gyan) and attained Moksha.
18 [18] NAL DAMYANTI (Monk Torture) (1) Damyanti, in her previous birth, while hunting with her husband got a Jain Monk caught by her servants and tortured him. (2) After about 5 hours, she realized and repented over her folly. She apologized to the Monk and brought him home and served him. (3) She put tilak made out of jewels on the foreheads of all the idols and therefore in her next birth as Damyanti, she was born with a natural glow on her forehead. (4) After life in heaven in their next birth they born as shepherds. They held an umbrella over a Monk when it was raining. (5) Later they offered milk to the Monk. (6) Both renounced the world and embraced monkshood. While Damyanti was sleeping her husband Nal, left her in the jungle and went away. (7) Damyanti worshipped God Shantinath everyday with fast in a cave. (8) Nal s father who had became a deity disguised himself as a snake and bit Nal, which changed his appearance. He gave him some clothes, a coconut and an ornamental box so as to help him return to his original self. (9) Nal went to Damyanti s Swayamvar (competition for wedding) along with Dadhiparna. (10) He cooked food using solar energy, due to which Damyanti recognized him. (11) Nal changed back to his original self. Bhimrath retuned the kingdom to Nal. In gamble, Nal even won back his own kingdom from Kuber. Nal and Damyanti renounced the world and left for heavens.
19 [19] SUDARSHAN SETH (Firm in Character) (1) Kapila with trick and fraud called Sudarshan home and urged for sensual pleasure. He replied I am impotent and thus escaped from there. (2) On the excuse of a statue, the maidservant picks Sudarshan who was in meditation and brought him. Because of Sudarshan's firmness and after being helpless, the Queen screams falsely that she was raped. (3) Hearing this, the King orders death punishment to the meditating Sudarshan. However, given the strong and pure character of Sudarshan, he got help of power of Deities and the rope used for hanging him turned into a throne. He got more respect and honour from the King. The truth gets spilled out and the blemished character of Sudarshan is cleared and penance of Manorama comes to an end. (4) Due to overpowering of Yaksha (Deity) in his body, Arjunmali (shown as demon in picture) used to kill 6 men and 1 woman daily for many years. (5) When Arjunmali came to kill Sudarshan, he heard chanting of Navkar from Sudarshan. As a result, Yaksha came out of Arjunmali s body. Arjunmali falls on his feet and along with Sudarshan goes to Samavsaran of God. (6) Arjunmali renounced the world. All the relatives and loved ones of those whom Arjunmali had killed, beat him up. He tolerated the beating with patience due to which he received Supreme Knowledge (Keval Gyan) and Moksha. Sudarshan also renounced the world. The Queen who had became witch, tortured Sudarshan but he tolerated everything smilingly and attained Moksha.
20 [20] NANDISHEN (Server of the Monks) (1) Nandishen was so ugly that not even one out of the seven daughters of his maternal Uncle agreed to marry him. (2) A Jain Monk saved him when he tried to commit suicide due to his ugliness. Nandishen renounced the world and vowed to fast for two days followed by Ayambil & fast for two days again and to look after other Monks till death. To test this quality of Nandishen, two Deities came down in disguise as Monks. One of the Monk contemptuously told Nandishen to look after the weak Monk (second Disguised Deity). Nandishen goes there. (3) The weak Monk rebuked Nandishen. Nandishen cleaned his urine and excreta and made the Monk to sit on his back. (4) While carrying the monk on his back, Nandishen walked slowly so as not to hurt the Monk. The Monk often urinated and excreted on his back, yet, Nandishen bore it gracefully with patience. (5) Both the Deities, who were disguised as Monks, appeared before him and apologized and praised Nandishen. (6) Nandishen undertook Anshan (fast until death) and did Niyana (Strong desire for worldly wishes other than Moksha) to become (Stree Vallabh- Liked by many women) and left for his heavenly abode. He became Krishna's father Vasudev and attained Moksha.
21 [21] KING SHRENIK S SON NANDISHEN (Love for Monk ship) (1) In his previous birth, Prince Nandishen, was a worker where food was cooked for the Brahmins and would then take whatever was left. (2) He served that food to the Monks. (3) After becoming a Jain Monk, he did not want to fall victim to passions, lust emotions and to break the vows of Monkshood. He tried to commit suicide where the Sashan Devi (A Lady Deity) saved him. (4) He went to the house of a prostitute for food. There he plucked a blade of glass and brought rainfall of gold. The prostitute captured him and kept him for 12 years. (5) He vowed to give sermons and convince 10 persons every day to renounce this world. (6) One day, 9 persons were ready to renounce world but the tenth wouldn t, therefore, Nandishen kept giving his sermons. When called for food by the lady, he said that, the 10th is not getting ready to renounce the world, the lady jokingly said Nandishen that why does not he become the 10th person himself. Therefore, he renounced the world and became a Jain Monk again at the feet of God Mahavir and went to heaven.
22 [22] HEMCHANDRACHARYA (Propagator of Jainism) (1) Born: 1145 Vikram Era (VE), Name: Chang Dev. Renounced world in 1154VE. Monk name: Som Dev: Became Acharya Hemchandra Suri 1166VE. (2) Amidst a congregation of scholars, Hemchandra Suriji by mistake said, that it was a full moon night instead of a no moon night. When he realized his mistake, he went into meditation. In the evening the Shashan Devi (A Lady Deity) miraculously showed the world a full moon in the sky. (3) Devbodhi showed Kumarpal - the King of Patan his past 7 generations to make him a believer of Shiva. At that time Hemchandracharya sat on 7 stools (seats) and had one stool (seat) removed after another and still remained suspended in the air and preached his sermons. (4) During the monsoons, the king of Turkey attacked Kumarpal, who had vowed not to leave Patan. Hemchandracharya with his spiritual powers brought the King of Turkey along with his bed to Kumarpal in Upashray (a building where Jain monks stay). Kumarpal and Turkey King became friends. (5) Hemchandracharya got many books like (SiddhHem Grammar etc) written on palm leaves (in those days those were used for writing scripts). (6) In 1229 VE, Hemchandra passed away. (7) In lure of be coming the chief after the death of Hemchandracharya, the traitor Monk Balchandra poisoned the mind of Ajaypal that Kumarpal will give the kingdom to Pratapmal. And advises him to poison Kumarpal. (8) King Ajaypal orders Monk Ramchandra, to give leadership to Balchandra, or he should get ready to lie on a bed of hot iron. Monk Ramchandra followed the orders of his Guru and he sacrificed his life but did not make Balchandra the chief and reached heaven.
23 [23] PARMARHAT (THE GREAT SHRAVAK- FOLLOWER OF JAINISM) King Kumarpal (Kind to all creatures) (1) Kumarpal in his previous birth as Jaytak- a brave who troubled the subjects was exiled from the kingdom by the king on being told by his father. (2) In the forest, he scolded a Jain Monk. But after hearing the sermons of the Monk, he vowed to leave the 7 deadly sins. (3) With flowers bought of 5 pence (Kodi), he worshipped the God. (4) In the birth as Kumarpal, he accepts 12 different rules of conduct of Shravak (Jain follower) from Guru Hemchandracharya. (5) In kingdom of Kumarpal even the water given to the horses was filtered using a cotton cloth. (6) King Kumarpal would clean the saddle with his dupatta (a scarf) so that he does not kill any living organisms when he sits. (7) During his Samayik (vow to live as a Jain Monk for 48 minutes), he saw a big black ant on his lap; with the fear that it may die he would not pick it & throw it but would scoop a bit of his flesh and gently lay the ant!!! (8) In his 18 provinces, he proclaimed non-violence. (9) When a Deity asked for a sacrifice of an animal, Kumarpal refused, which angered the Deity and made him a leper. But with the grace of Guru Hemchandracharya, the disease was cured. (10) Once he ordered his brother-in-law, who killed lice, to build a Jain temple as a price for his sins. (11) Palm leaves were used to write Agams. Once there was shortage of leaves. Therefore King Kumarpal worshipped Palm trees and they turned into Tad trees miraculously. (12) Ajaypal poisons Kumarpal and threatened the treasurer and took away the keys so that Kumarpal could not even get a precious stone that can cure poisoned Kumarpal. (13) After Kumarpal s death, Ajaypal became the king and destroyed many Jain temples. Due to this sin he went to hell along with traitor Monk Balchandra.
24 [24] VAJRA (Propagator of Jainism) (1) Dhangiri left his pregnant wife to renounced the world and became a Jain Monk. (2) When the child was born, he heard about his father s renouncement, which made him recollect his previous birth. He kept troubling his mother by weeping all the time, so that his mother is fed up of him and will easily let him renounce world. (3) Sick of her crying son, the mother donated him to monk Dhangiriji who gave him to nuns (Sadhvijis) for upbringing. (4) The son carefully listened to the Agam Granthas (Book of Jain scripts) from the nuns and learnt the eleven (Angas) in the cradle. (5) After finding that the child is calm and happy, the mother came back to the Dhannaji to take her son back. (6) When Dhannaji declined to return the son to the mother, she complaint to the King. The King asked to fetch the child and let child decide with whom he wants to stay. The child went to Dhangiriji. Seeing this Dhangiriji immediately gave Diksha (Renouncement of World) to his son who was named Vajra Swami. (7) In a drought prone area, Vajra Swami carried his community of people (monks and religious men and women) to a prosperous land through the sky. (8) There, the people against the Jain religion did not permit the Jains to offer flowers for worship of God. Vajra Swami brought millions of flowers from sky and thus spread the praise and fame of Jainism. (9) When Vajra Swami realized that his death was near, he went to Mount Rathavarta and fasted there with meditation for a month and went to heaven.
25 [25] RAMAYANA (1) (Obeying father s word) (1) Queen Kaikai put garland around King Dashrath so all kings became his enemies and they fought with him. Kaikai was King Dashrath s Charioteer during the battle. King Dashrath won the battle and happily asked what she want as Vardan (boon) she said, At appropriate time she would ask for the boon. (2) Later she asked the crown for his son Bharat and sentence 14 years exile for Ram (Dasharath s eldest son), his wife Sita and Laxman (Ram s brother). (3) Bharat and Kaikai, later pleaded Ram to return back to Ayodhya. (4) When Ravana was abducted Sita on his way to Lanka, Jatayu (Eagle) pecked Ravana. Angrily Ravana cut the wings of Jatayu, resulting in its death. (5) Seeing injured Jatayu taking his last breath, Ram came to know about Sita s abduction. (6) Hanuman gave Ram s ring to Sita in Lanka, upon which she broke her fast after 21days. (7) Hanuman created havoc in Lanka, crushed Ravana s crown, and set Lanka on fire and came back.
26 [26] RAMAYANA (2) (Ego and Effect of Penance) (1) Hanuman gave Sita s bangles to Ram. (2) Vibhishan was contempt by Indrajeet, when he requested the release of Sita. (3) Vibhishan seeks shelter of Ram. (4) Laxman (the Vasudev) and Ravana (the Prati Vasudev) fought fiercely. (5) Due to Ravana s super natural power, Amogh Vijaya, Laxman becomes unconscious and is saved by the touch of Vishalya, who did a lot of penance in her previous birth. (6) Ravana s (Vidya Sadhana), Mandodari s keen watch, and Ravana s threat to have sex with Sita renders her unconscious. Ravana s repentance. (7) Laxman's spherical weapon (Chakra) kills Ravana. Shame on ego, and on crave for lust. (8) With 1,000 kings, Bharat renounced the world and attained the Supreme Knowledge (Keval Gyan).
27 [27] KAURAVA AND PANDAVA (Gamble - Renouncement) (1) Draupadi, in her previous birth, had offered a Jain Monk bitter and poisonous gourd vegetable. (2)The Monk, in order to protect lives of living organisms from eating and dying, ate it all by himself and died and attained the heavenly birth. (3) Killing of the monk resulted in Draupadi s roaming (taking birth after birth) in the world for infinite times. She was deserted twice by her two husbands, because her body was like a flame of fire. (4) She renounced world and did penance in the scorching heat. At that time she saw a prostitute enjoying with 5 men. She desired strongly to have 5 men in her next birth. As a result of her severe penance, her wishes came true in the next birth of Draupadi and she got five husbands. (5) Draupadi even though put a garland around Arjun, but appeared as if put around 5 Pandavas. Naradji conveyed and told about her Niyana in her earlier birth. (6) Duryodhan was mocked by the Pandavas, when he lifted his Cloths, because he thought there was water but actually it is crystal marble. (7) Pandavas lost kingdom and even Draupadi in gamble while Duryodhan won. (8) Amidst the full of courtroom, Draupadi was stripped off her saree by Dushashan. (9) Kichak s murder. (10) Deity intimated injured Bhishma, on the battlefield, the time for him to depart the world. (11) Naradji was not respected by Draupadi because of his vow less life style. (12) As a result, upset Naradji got Draupadi abducted by the king of Amar Kanka. (13) Krishna was enraged when Pandavas did not send the boat and banished them out of the kingdom. (14) Kunti, Draupadi and the Pandavas renounced the world and became Jain Monks. (15) Due to severe penance Draupadi went to heaven and the rest attained Moksha at Sidhdhachal the holy hills of Jains.
28 [28] 12TH OF THE NEXT 24 TIRTHANKARS Shri Krishna (1) Krishna was a snake killer in his previous birth. (2) In next birth the female snake becomes mother and Krishna becomes his son Gangadutta. He is thrown by her in the garbage. (3) Gangadutta renounced the world. He resolute Niyana (Strong desire for worldly wishes) to be loved by all. He died and goes to heaven. (4) Devaki s seventh child was Shri Krishna. (5) Ketumanjari s father asked her to decide between being a Queen or maid. She decided to be a maid and she was married to a weaver. She did not do any housework so the weaver beat her. She complains her father, she renounces the world. (6) Drunken Shyam and others beat Dweepayan. Dweepayan resolute Niyana and becomes Deity Agni Kumar and put Dwarika city on fire. (7) Bharat told his 98 brothers, Take your own kingdoms given by me and live under my order. 98 brothers came to God Rushabhdev to say We will fight. Rushabhdev delivered sermons to them to shed Kashay (passions like Anger, Ego and Greed) along with total nonviolence. Upon hearing this sermons all the 98 brothers renounced the world. (8) Krishna advises Arjun in the Bhagawatgeeta to indulge in war with brothers Kauravas, Guru and friends with Kashay and follow his warrior roots and instincts (Kshatriya Dharma). He said, If you do not do that you will bring disrespect to your religion, disgrace to your self and commit sins. (9) Dwarika is burning. (10) In the absence of Baldev, Jara Kumar shot an arrow under the illusion that there was a deer in the bush. Krishna died. (11) Monk Balram reached heaven by severe penance. A carpenter who offered alms with lofty heart to Baldeva, reached heaven and a deer by watching all this and praising also reached heaven. At this time half cut huge branch of a tree fell killing all three.
29 [29] RAMAYANA (3) (Greed for Fame -Detachment) (1) Sita dreamt of a 8-legged two deer s and thereafter she became pregnant. (2) Disguised Ram heard a launderer rebuke his wife and came to know about people suspecting Sita s character and he left Sita. (3) Upon the request of King Vasragangh, Sita went to his house and gave birth to 2 sons, Lavanankush and Madanankush. (4) Naradji introduces both to Ram and Laxman when they came to the battlefield. (5) Sita s test for purity and virtuousness. She renounced world and becomes Sitendra, the Indra of the 12th heaven. (6) Seeing the sunset Hanuman became detached and along with his two wives and 750 kings renounced the world and attained Moksha. (7) Ram renounced the world and attained Avadhi Gyan (the knowledge beyond sense organs). Sitendra try to astray him from his meditation but fails to Muni Ram. (8) Monk Ram attains Supreme Knowledge. Replying to Sitendra Ram says Ravan and Laxman presently in the 4th hell would become Tirthankars (God) in the future. Sitendra would become in future a Ganadhar, principle disciple of Tirthankar Ravana. (9) To bring both Laxman and Ram to heaven, Sitendra went to 4th hell where they were undergoing a lot of pain and being shattered like mercury.nts
LIKE & COMMENT - https://jintirthdarshan.blogspot.com/
THANKS FOR VISITING.
interesting stories.
ReplyDeleteAs per Ramayana it is mentioned Sitendra goes to bring 4th hell to bring Laxman and Ravana.
As per Shastra nobody can go to hell. So the last part of the story is not logical.