Jain Legend Vol 1

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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J v nanda. J v nanda had four close friends - first was the prince Mah dhara, second was the son of a trader, third was the son of a minister and fourth the son of a merchant. One day when he was talking to his friends at his home a long meditating ascetic came to his house for alms. The ascetic's body was infected with worms of leprosy. Seeing the monk's afflicted state prince Mah dhara said to J v nanda, "Friend, you cure other people but pity you do not seem very keen on doing something for this ascetic.” J v nanda replied – “to treat this disease three things are needed, a gem-studded blanket, go r a-sandal (ox-head sandalwood) and lak ap ka-oil and I have only lak ap ka oil with me. Without the other two ingredients I won't be able to do anything." Hearing this Mah dhara started for the marketplace along with his friends to bring those objects and demanded a gem-studded blanket and go r asandalwood from a wealthy trader of the town. The trader quoted one hundred thousand (1 lakh) gold coins each for the two objects and enquired as to why they were needed. Hearing the reason, impressed by the dedication of the young people, the trader thought he might take advantage of this pious deed of serving an ascetic and so handed over the objects without charging any price for them.
The physician's son, J v nanda and his four friends went to the ascetic with the objects. J v nanda, after prayers, messaged ascetic's body with lak ap ka oil the moment the ascetic's body absorbed the oil, the leprosy worms started to wriggle out. Then J v nanda covered his body with the gem-studded blanket, upon which the worms got stuck to it. The physician then threw the blanket on the corpse of a cow and those worms were absorbed in the flesh of the dead animal. Finally, J v nanda smeared go r a-sandalwood paste on the ascetic's body. In this way, rubbing the body thrice J v nanda cured the ascetic of his disease through his skillful treatment. Through this detached and dedicateddevoted service rendered, J v nanda and his friends gained great merit. Their hearts melted seeing the ascetic thus cured and healthy. The monk preached detachment to them; hearing which J v nanda and his four friends accepted the rama a-dharma. Subsequently, dutifully adhering to the rama a-dharma the five friends became worthy of the status of gods in the 12th heaven of Acyuta-kalpa.
After completing his life as a deva J v nanda was born in Pu kal vat to the wife of king Vajrasena, Dh ri . At the time of conception the mother saw 14 great dreams. Vajrasena named his son Vajran bha, who went on
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