Ajatshatru Kunik Diwakar Chitrakatha 026

Author(s): Tarunmuni, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Mahavir Seva Trust Mumbai

Page 34

विशेष ज्ञातव्य
In the Jain literature Kunik is popularly mentioned as Ashokchandra Kunik. Due to his wounded finger, pecked by a hen, every one called him Kunik (one with a cut finger). In the Jain works he is more often mentioned as Kunik or Konik rather than his full name. In the Buddhist literature his name is Ajatshatru Kunik. Modern historians also know him as Ajatshatru.
The available Jain literary evidences indicate that King Kunik was a devout follower of Bhagavan Mahavir. It is mentioned that he had appointed a messenger (Pravrittivaduk) whose only duty was to bring news of Bhagavan Mahavir's well being every morning. Kunik took his breakfast only after this news.
**Kunik's mother, Queen Chelna, was the daughter of King Chetak, the head of the Vaishali republic. She was a follower of the Nirgranth religion (as Jainism was called in those days). It was her inspiration that turned Shrenik a devotee of Bhagavan Mahavir whose mother Trishla, was the sister of King Chetak.
The republic of Vaishali was the largest republic state of that era. It was a grand city with invincible fortification. Buddha has said "If some one wants to see Amaravati, the city of gods, he should see the grandeur of Vaishali."
Sechanak Elephant was endowed with Vibhang Jnana (a class of remote knowledge) due to his deeds of the earlier birth. He could know about the camouflaged pit of fire but jumped into it because of the suspicion on his faithfulness. As he died with purity in his attitude he reincarnated as a god in the first dimension of gods.
The divine necklace of Halla and Vihalla was taken back by the gods. The gods also transported them to the religious assembly of Bhagavan Mahavir. They renounced the world and got initiated.
It is mentioned in Avashyak Churni that the combined value of the divine necklace and penoten Sechanak elephant was total that of the whole empire of King Shrenik.
Shrenik had ten wives named Kali, Mahakali, Sukali, etc. Every one of them had a son named Kaal, Mahakaal, Sukaal, etc. respectively. These ten brothers were killed by the divine arrows of King Chetak in the war of Vaishali. After their death their mothers got initiated in the order of Bhagavan Mahavir. They did severe penance, the details of which are mentioned in Antakriddasha Sutra. This Agam is specially read during the Paryushan Parva.
A lot of information about Kunik is available in Jain scriptures like Bhagavati Sutra, Niryavalika, Aupapatik, etc..
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