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Stories Of The Sadhu
Jain Education International
Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV JUNE 27-JULY 6 1998
PRASANNACHANDRARAJARSHI (era of Mahavirswami)
Ata samovsaran of Bhagavan Mahavir King Shrenik asked, "Lord, on my way here, I saw mahatama
Prasannachandra standing on one foot and deep in meditation. If he were to die at this moment, where would he go?" Bhagvan replied, "To the seventh hell." "Even after such meditation - hell?" wondered King Shrenik. But at that moment, the sky erupted with music as bugles began to
blow in celebration. Bhagavan announced to the assembled: "Prasannachandra has
achieved omniscience (kevalgnyaan)." Shrenik was confused by this announcement. "A few moments ago en route to hell and now on the path to moksha?" questioned the king. Bhagvan explained how this could be so. "Having heard that political trouble may befall his son, he became immersed in a vivid daydream. In this delusion, he saw that his kingdom of Potan was besieged by enemy forces and
he was forced to surrender his kingdom to the invaders. The thought of losing his kingdom so angered him that he imagined throwing his crown and hitting the opponents' king. It was at that time you asked your question, and at this moment Prasannachandra's soul was on its way to hell. However as Prasannachandra put his hand to his head to reach for his crown, he realized that it was all his imagination. He came to the realization that his meditation was meaningless with mere outward abandonment and renunciation and without inner control. It was with this revelation, intense repentance, and solemn peace that his soul shattered its last bondage and achieved emancipation."
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