$JES 202 Jain Story Book Level 2 Book

SR No.: 000121
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 160
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Jaina_Education, 0_Jaina_education, & JAINA Books
File Size: 22 MB

Page 31

BHAGAWAN NEMINÄTH
NO
was approaching its destination, Nemkumär heard the sobbing sounds of animals. Moreover, on the side of the road, he saw large fenced areas and cages full of wailing animals and birds. Filled with sympathy and compassion, Nemkumar asked the charioteer why those animals and birds were being kept in bondage. The charioteer informed him that the wailing sounds were coming from the birds and animals that were to be slaughtered for the wedding dinner. Upon hearing this, Nemkumar could not bear the idea
COCO000000000/0 of violence being caused on the account of his wedding. He asked the charioteer to free all the animals and birds and started thinking about how to prevent such violence. "Can there be a way of life that would extend
All the animals and birds are released at Nemkumär's request peace and security to every living being?" he asked himself. As he thought deep into the matter, it was clear to him that he should explore a way of life that promoted the well-being of all. He realized that after marriage, he might get too involved in worldly life and it would be hard for him to embark upon such an exploration. Since the present seemed like the right time for him to explore the truth that would lead to the happiness of every living being, he decided not to get married. Everyone on the bridegroom's side was taken aback by his decision. His friends and close relatives tried to dissuade him, but he calmly explained that his mission was to explore freedom from misery for all living beings. He further explained, "As these animals were prisoners in their cages, we all are prisoners in the cages of karma which are much stronger than these fences. The feeling of joy is evident in the animals released from the cages. Happiness is in freedom, not in bondage. I want to find the path to breaking this bondage of karma and embrace eternal bliss. Please do not stop me." Then, he asked the charioteer to turn back. After returning to his kingdom, Nemkumär spent a year donating all his belongings to the poor and the needy. At the end of the year, he left his royal palace and went to the nearby Raivata garden. Under an Ashok tree, he took off all his ornaments and royal dress and pulled out five fistfuls of hair, becoming an ascetic along with one thousand others. Shri Krishna, deeply touched, blessed his cousin and wished him success in his mission. Monk Nemkumar first went to Mount Girnär and entered intense meditation. As he stood motionless, trying to find the cause of all unhappiness, he realized that ignorance of the true nature of the Self led to wrong perception, and consequent wrong actions resulted in all sorts of misery and pain. He therefore dwelled deep on the Self. After spending fifty-four days in deep spiritual meditation at Mount Girnär, Neminäth destroyed all his Ghäti karmas, which were obscuring the true nature and power of the soul. He attained keval-inän and became an omniscient. He established the four-fold religious order (Chaturvidha Sangh or Tirtha) and became the twenty-second Tirthankar of the Jain religion. Thereafter, he lived a long life preaching the path of liberation to the common people. At the time when Neminäth was deciding to renounce his worldly life, Räjul was being adorned by her girlfriends. She was eagerly waiting for the arrival of Nemkumar as the bridegroom when they heard the news that he had
JAIN STORY BOOK