Awakening of Karkandu Diwakar Chitrakatha 023

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

Page 2

THE AWAKENING OF KARKANDU
Pratyek-buddha is a unique Jain term. It means-that pure and sagacious soul which when inspired by some particular incident acquires spiritual consciousness, becomes free of passions like lust, anger, greed, and conceit and indulges in spiritual endeavour. There have been many such inspired souls in the past and many more are yet to come. However, in the Jain literature there are four famous stories about such inspired individuals. These stories are interesting as well as inspiring.
The hero of this story is Karkandu the mighty king of Kalinga state. He was the son of King Dadhivahan of Champa. His mother was Queen Padmavati. However, circumstances forced him to be brought up by the family of Matang, a chandal or the caretaker of the cremation ground. Due to his inborn hereditary virtues Karkandu became a great ruler. He was instrumental in bringing about a revolutionary change in the that day society by turning the chandal clans into Brahmins by educating them. The incident is relevant even today because it gives the ideal message that social uplift can be effected by infusing values and virtues, and not just by being converted into a religious order or a clan.
The whole life of Karkandu is the pronouncement of courageously accepting good conduct as the way of life and fearlessly following it. To recognize the ephemeral nature of human life just by looking at a groggy bull is a sign of the piety of his attitude.
According to the historians Karkandu was a contemporary of Bhagavan Mahavir. However, the fact that he became a pratyek-buddha before Bhagavan Mahavir became a Tirthankar connects him with Bhagavan Parshvanath's order also.
This script was written by Shri Pankaj Muni the disciple Up-pravartak Shri Amar Muni ji M. who is a disciple of U. B. Pravartak Bhandari Shri Padmachandra ji M. of Shraman Sangh
- Shrichand Surana Saras'
Written by: Shri Pankaj Muni
Managing Editors: Dr. Mansukhbhai Jain, Sanjay Surana
Compilation : Srichand Surana 'Saras'
English Translation: Surendra Bothara
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