Jain Heritage and Beyond

SR No.: 006519
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 174
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Spiritual
File Size: 37 MB

Page 147

When Dhanävah went on a three-day business trip, his wife used this opportunity to get rid of Chandanbälä. She called a barber right away to shave off Chandanbälä's beautiful hair. Then she tied Chandanbälä's legs with heavy shackles and locked her in a room away from the main area of the house. She told the other servants not to tell Dhanävah where Chandanbälä was or she would do the same to them. Then Moolä left and went to her parent's house.
When Dhanävah returned from his trip he did not see Moolä or Chandanbälä. He asked the servants about them. The servants told him that Moola was at her parent's house, but they did not tell him where Chandanbälä was because they were scared of Moolä. He asked the servants in a worried tone, "Where is my daughter Chandanbälä? Please speak up and tell the truth." Still nobody said a word. He was very upset and did not know what to do. After a few minutes an older servant thought, “I am an old woman and will soon die anyway. What is the worst thing Moolä can do to me?" So out of compassion for Chandanbälä and sympathy for the merchant she told him everything that Moolä had done to Chandanbälä.
She took the merchant to the room where Chandanbälä was locked up. Dhanävah unlocked the door and saw Chandanbälä. He was shocked when he saw her. He told Chandanbälä, “My dear daughter, I will get you out of here. You must be hungry. Let me find some food for you." He went to the kitchen to find food for her. He found that there was no food left except for some boiled lentils in a pan. The merchant took the pan of lentils to Chandanbälä. He told her that he was going to get a blacksmith to cut the heavy shackles and left.
Chandanbälä was thinking about how her life had changed. She started wondering how fate can change a person's life from riches to almost helplessness. Chandanbälä decided that she would like to make an offering of food to a monk or nun before eating. She got up, walked to the door, and stood there with one foot outside and one inside.
To her surprise, she saw Lord Mahävir walking towards her. She said, “Oh revered Lord, please accept this food.” However, Lord Mahävir had taken a vow to fast until a person who met certain conditions offered him food. Some of his conditions were: • The person offering the food should be a princess • She should be bald . She should be in shackles • She should offer boiled lentils, with one foot inside and the other foot outside the house • She should have tears in her eyes
Lord Mahävir looked at her and noticed that one of his predefined conditions was still missing. She met all the conditions except the one about having tears in her eyes, and therefore Lord Mahävir walked away. Chandanbälä was very sad that Lord Mahävir did not accept alms from her and started crying. Tears streamed down her face. Crying, she again requested Lord Mahävir to accept the alms. Lord Mahävir saw the tears in her eyes and came back to accept the food knowing that all his conditions were now met. Chandanbälä offered the lentils to Lord Mahävir and was very happy.
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