________________
PART I TIRTHANKARS
04
Bhagawin Neminath
A long time ago, the Yädava clan settled on the banks of the River Yamunä in India. The major centers of the Yädava community were Mathurä and Sauripura, located in the present-day state of Uttar Pradesh. When the Yädava King Samudravijay ruled over Sauripura with his wife, Shivädevi, they had a son, Lord Neminäth, and named him Nemkumär. Because his mother dreamt of a series of black jewels called Arista when he was in her womb, he is also known as Aristanemi.
PLEAS
Nemkumar's wedding procession
King Väsudev, the younger brother of King Samudravijay, was the King of Mathurä. He had two queens; Queen Rohini, who had a son named Balräm (Padma), and Queen Devaki, who had a son named Shri Krishna. Both Balräm and Shri Krishna were the ninth Baldev and Väsudev as per Jain tradition. Shri Krishna is also the incarnation of Lord Vishnu (God) in the Hindu religion.
was very popular.
Meanwhile, the whole area of central India had been disturbed due to the prevailing conspiracies among various kingdoms. King Kamsa and the oppressive King Jaräsangh of Magadha, a Prativäsudev by the Jain tradition, instigated the worst problems.
30
During this time, hunting was a favored sport and gambling was considered a respectable activity. Religious ceremonies included animal sacrifice, and a non-vegetarian diet
In order to protect the people, various kings of the Yädava clan, including Samudravijay, Väsudev, Ugrasen, and Shri Krishna, migrated from Mathurä and Sauripura to the West Coast of Gujarat, India. Shri Krishna constructed the large and beautiful town of Dvärkä on the seacoast near the Raivatak (Girnär) Mountain. Its grand architecture and strong fortification made it heavenly, beautiful, and unconquerable.
Ugrasen became the King of Junagadh, situated on the other side of the foothills of Mount Girnär. By his wife Dhärini, he had a daughter named Räjimati or Räjul. She was a beautiful and graceful young girl and many princes were eager to marry her. However, when she came to know of Nemkumär, she became captivated and desired to marry him. King Ugrasen sent a request to Nemkumär for an engagement to Räjul. After considerable effort, friends and family persuaded Nemkumar to become engaged to Räjul. Everyone was happy, thinking that Nem and Räjul would make an ideal couple. The two were engaged and an auspicious day was fixed for their wedding ceremony.
For King Ugrasen, the wedding of his beloved daughter was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion and so he made elaborate wedding arrangements. On the wedding day, Nemkumär mounted his chariot, specially decorated for the wedding, and a large number of people gathered to witness the gorgeous wedding ceremony. However, as the procession
JAIN STORY BOOK
