________________
Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV ASHADH 4-12 V.S. 2054
VAJRASWAMI (Vir Samvat 415)
Soon after her husband took diksha, Sunanda delivered a very bright baby boy. The baby at birth itself attained memory of his past life and started crying. Fed up with her crying son, Sunanda offered him instead of food to Dhangirimuni, when he came to her house for bhiksha. In the upashraya, the child, who was very heavy, was named "Vajra" by the shravikas. Growing up with the sadhvis, Vajra grew to be knowledgeable. Seeing his brightness, Sunanda asked that her son be returned to her. However in the royal court where the issue was taken up, Vajra, who was eight years old, proclaimed his desire to live with the monks and took the vows of a monk. Angels tried to test his conviction with food but Vajra with his vast knowledge was able to recognize the tests and deny the food. The pleased angels bestowed him with special powers such as the abilities to fly and to transform his physical being. Vajramuni attained knowledge of the ten purvas and became the foremost acharya of his time. During one drought he seated the entire sangh on a piece of cloth and flew them to Subhikshpur. He also brought flowers for the sangh from Lakshmidevi herself during one Paryushan. He also renovated Shatrunj tirth. It was during a second drought that he took up extreme abstinence and died and went to devlok.
Stories Of The Sadhu
87
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org