Storytime
Shruti Jain, Nishi Shah
Do you remember sitting in Pathshala eagerly waiting to read the next Jain story in the book? Or begging your parents or grandparents to tell you just one more story before bed? Many of us grew up reading and listening to a huge selection of Jain stories, some of them more personally impactful than others.
In this 30th Anniversary Special Edition, we wanted to celebrate the most memorable thing YJA has offered to its members: connections. Often, the stories you’re told are impactful because of how you were told them: with friends in Pathshala, for a play at Mahavir Jayanti, tucked in bed with your siblings, while petting your puppy in your reading nook, or as self-reflection during Paryushan/Das Lakshan.
Here, we present a selection of abbreviated Jain stories featuring various types of relationships.
Nemkumar and Rajmati: Humans & Animals
In the kingdom of Sauripura, Prince Nemkumar was the son of King Samudravijay and Queen Shivadevi. Princess Rajmati, the daughter of King Ugrasen and Queen Dharini of Dvarka, got to know of Prince Nemkumar and wanted to marry him. Nemkumar agreed, and a grand wedding was planned. However, during the procession towards the wedding, Nemkumar saw crying animals and birds trapped in cages.
When he asked his charioteer about the animals, he was told that they were going to be slaughtered for his wedding. Upon hearing this, Nemkumar stopped the procession, wishing to find a way to prevent this kind of violence on his account. He chose to leave the wedding, and instead gave away his worldly possessions and started meditating. Rajmati, although initially upset, understood his choice and followed in his footsteps, taking Diksha. Eventually, Nemkumar attained Moksha and became a Tirthankar.
This story shows that while animals do not always have the means to speak for themselves, it is up to humans to be mindful of their actions and reduce harm to other beings on their account.
Vipul & Vijan: Friends
One night, two friends, Vipul and Vijan, got lost in the jungle. As the sun was setting, they decided to take refuge in a nearby shelter. Later that night, they spotted a hut in the distance but approached it with caution. As they peeked through the window, they saw a hermit deep in meditation.
When they told him about how they got lost in the forest, the hermit graciously offered them fruits and a place to rest. In the morning, the hermit extended help to guide them back to the village, but before they left, Vipul and Vijan pleaded with the hermit that he tell them their future. The hermit politely refused, but when the two friends insisted, the hermit explained that the predictions aren’t always accurate and he doesn’t advise that people hear about their future. Nevertheless, they wanted to hear it.
The prediction: Within a year, Vipul would become a king and Vijan would die at the hands of an assassin.
Once they returned home, Vipul’s ego rose and he started to act like he was invincible, not caring about his actions towards others. Vijan, on the other hand, worked with great devotion to be the best version of himself. Six months later, the two friends decided to visit the site of Vipul’s future palace and noticed a pot of gold coins. As Vipul was about to reach for it, an assassin jumped out of the bushes ready to attack him. Vijan jumped in front to save his friend, and received only a mere cut on his shoulder. Vipul didn’t show any gratitude and instead offered him half the gold coins, which Vijan declined.
A year passed. Neither did Vipul become a king nor did Vijan die. So they set off to visit the hermit to ask for an explanation. The hermit told them that their destinies are driven by the Karma they collect; Vipul’s ego and thoughtless actions changed his destiny for the worse, whereas Vijan’s sincerity and humility changed his destiny for thebha better.
The takeaway from the story of these two friends is that we should strive to be the best versions of ourselves and live with compassion towards everyone, even ourselves; our Karma determines our fate.
Surasen and Mahasen: Siblings
King Virasen had two sons, Surasen and Mahasen, who were very close to each other. One day, Mahasen discovered a painful boil on his tongue that prevented him from eating and sleeping. Each day, the boil got worse to the point where it gave Mahasen terrible breath and no one wanted to come near him due to the smell. However, Surasen refused to leave his brother’s side and started chanting the Navkar Mantra daily. To everyone’s surprise, each time Surasen said the Navkar Mantra, the boils on Mahasen’s tongue diminished and eventually fully healed.
Later, the brothers met Bhadrabahu Swami and asked him why Mahasen had to suffer through the painful boils. The Acharya explained that in their past lives, they had also been brothers named Bhir (Surasen) and Vir (Mahasen). They had come across a monk who had been bitten by a snake while meditating. Vir had asked Bhir why no one had killed the snake, and Bhir replied that committing another act of violence did not make up for the first one. Since Vir spoke of hurting the snake in his past life, he suffered in this life as Mahasen. It was not Surasen’s Navkar chants that had cured him, but the fruition of his previous bad Karma coming to an end. When they learned this, the two brothers decided to renounce their worldly ties and become monks.
This story showcases the relationship between two brothers in multiple lives. In both lives, they love and support each other through difficult times. However, the story also shows that no matter how close one is to his or her family, their Karmas are their own.
Chandkaushik: Self-Love
One day, when Mahavir Swami was a monk, he decided to go to the village of Vachala. He was warned to err on the side of caution during his journey as he would have to pass through a forest that was terrorized by a poisonous snake named Chandkaushik. All it took for Chandkaushik to kill someone was an evil glance. Despite the plea of the villagers, Mahavir Swami embarked on the journey with no fear or remorse towards the snake, and trusted his faithful practice of non-violence to help him stay at peace with himself and those around him.
As Mahavir Swami set out on his journey, he noticed the forest becoming arid and losing its beauty. He took this as a signal that Chandkaushik must be around. Mahavir Swami decided to stop and meditate, clearing the aura of his surroundings while trying to induce peace and compassion for every living thing around him.
Chandkaushik then sensed that someone had come near his land and slithered out. To scare Mahavir Swami off, Chandkaushik aggressively hissed and blew venom at Mahavir Swami, who stood there with tranquility, meditating. At his last nerve, Chandkaushik bit Mahavir Swami’s toe. To his wildest surprise, he saw milk instead of blood flowing out.
Mahavir Swami, undisturbed, opened his eyes and said, with love and affection, “Bujh, Bujh, Chandkaushik.” It was then that something changed from within Chandkaushik; he suddenly remembered his two previous lives and all the anger and ego that resulted in his putrid being today. He bowed down respectively to Mahavir Swami and retreated to his burrow. Some villagers soon started to worship Chandkaushik, while others sought vengeance for all the harm he had done. He suffered in silence with ultimate self-restraint and control over his feelings, and just a few days later, died.
Chandkaushik realized that his actions were hurting not only those around him, but also himself. This self-realization and his decision to remain calm and avoid anger, ego, and violence of all forms destroyed much of his bad Karma.
Sources: JAINA Compendium of Jainism, 4th edition and Jainworld.com
