Stories from Jainism

[Ashok]

Rathnemi and Aristnemi were brothers, but the two were poles apart in temperament. Aristnemi was detached whereas Rathnemi was attached to worldly things. The beautiful Rajimati wanted to marry Aristnemi, who refused it being devoted to monkhood. Rathnemi was pleased to learn that his brother had refused Rajimati, for it increased his own chances of marrying her.

     So Rathnemi sent his maid secretly to Rajimati to sing his praises. After praising Rathnemi's handsome personality, bravery and skill, the maid put forth his proposal for Rajimati's hand. Rajimati was surprised at that but decided to playa trick in order to teach Rathnemi a lesson. She asked the maid to send Rathnemi personally to get the answer. She added that he should bring his favourite drink with him.

     Rathnemi regarded Rajimati's message as a good sign. He went to her house thinking happily about the future. Rajimati greeted him and the two talked for a long time, eventually opening the drink Rathnemi had brought.

      Rajimati had the drink with a medicine instantly. Just as Rathnemi was thinking his proposal would be accepted, Rajimati vomited in the same cup what she had drunk from. Rathnemi shivered, wondering if something was mixed in his own drink as well, when Rajimati gave her cup filled with the vomit to Rathnemi and asked him to drink it.

     Rathnemi was startled. Rajimati's behaviour irritated him. He barked angrily, "Rajimati, to ask such a thing is to insult a noble man like me! Do you regard me as a dog or a crow that you think I would drink the vomit.

     Rajimati --I'm just testing your love.

     Rathnemi --Is this the proper way to test it? There are many other methods.

     Rajimati --If you had just drunk it at my command, I will know that you truly love me. After ail, this is the same liquid that you brought for me. I swallowed it but vomited it before it reached my stomach.

     Rathnemi --It makes no difference. After all, it is vomit. Rajimati is it so difficult for it to be drunk by the person who wants to marry me?
Rathnemi--What in the world does marriage has to do with vomiting?

     Rajimati--In the same way as this drink was vomited by me, I was abandoned as if vomited by your elder brother. Rathnemi! When you thought of marrying me, you should have considered that you were really wishing to marry your elder brother's wife. You weren't thinking about anything but beauty. It would've been better for you to renounce worldly pleasures and enjoy inner peace.

     Rajimati's words awakened his conscience. He was ashamed. He replied with sorrow: " I apologize for my mistake and will not repeat it in future. I hereby renounce worldly affairs like my brother. Now I shall go."

[Ashok]

Prince Lalitangkumar was the son of King Kumbha, the ruler of Amarpur. He was very handsome and was loved by all the members of his family.

     Once Acharya Oharmaghosa came to the city. The prince, listening to the acharya's sermon, was very much influenced and impressed by it. After receiving permission from his parents, he became a monk.

     He was given the name 'Kuurgaduk' because he loved to eat the coarse grain known as 'Kuur. ' As a monk, he wanted to learn to control his sensory organs. However, as he could not bear the pangs of hunger, he did not observe fast and would instead eat kuur.

     On the starting day of the Chaturmaas, all the monks including the Acharya as well as all the lay-followers observed fast. Because the Acharya inspired all his followers to do penance, some of them fasted for one, two, or even four months. During the time of fast, Acharya was busy with his lectures.

     It was excruciatingly difficult for Kuurgaduk muni to remain without food. He was waiting for the lecture to conclude so that he might collect alms and eat his kuur: Because of his immense appetite he could not desist from satisfying his hunger. Thus he went to Acharya after the sermon to seek permission' to collect alms. Acharya was once again disappointed, "All are fasting; you should do it too."

     Muni Kuurgaduk replied, "1 know you are saying this for my benefit and welfare. I know the value and usefulness of fasting, but I regret I am unable to do it. Please exempt me from fasting and allow me to eat kuur." The Acharya, exasperated, at last gave his consent the muni to gather the alms.

     In spite of the half-hearted approval by the Acharya, the muni went out in search of food. When he obtained some, he brought it back to show the Acharya, who, upon seeing it, lost his temper and rebuked him. He spat on the food. Kuurgaduk remained completely equanimous.

     Kuurgaduk went into his room and sat down with his food, slowly seeing the Acharya's point of view. He thought it over with complete equanimity of mind. While eating his food, his mind was absorbed in meditation and re-evaluation of his habit. Then he stopped eating; he was experienced a state of purity of thought and then the climax of forgiveness.

     Meanwhile, a goddess named Chakreshvari appeared and asked the monks, "Where is Kuurgaduk muni?" They told her first to visit the Acharya and asked her, "Why are you so eager to see Kuurgaduk who is attached to food?" Whereupon the goddess replied, "I have come here to visit only him. Simandhardswami, the Omniscient Tirthankara, told me that muni Kuurgaduk has attained omniscience."

     All the munis ridiculed her at this, nevertheless pointed to the place where the muni was sitting. She went there and did vandanaa to him. He was absorbed in meditation and had indeed attained kevalgyaana. Many gods celebrated the kaivalya function of the monk. His acharya, however, was surprised to learn of it. Then, he too repented for his anger and attained enlightenment.