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35 Jambuswämi 138
36 Four Daughters-in-law
141
37 Subhadrä
144
38 Kalävati
149
39 Sumitra
155
40 Ächarya Sthulibhadra
159
PREFACE
Jain spiritual leaders were aware that if some precept is to be explained to the laymen, that can be easily done through the medium of stories. Consequently Jain literature abounds in stories. In fact, one of the four main divisions of the Jain literature consists of stories and is known as Kathänuyoga.
When I was a kid, our elders used to tell stories. My father was a good story teller. I still remember how people remained spell bound while listening to him.
I had the occasion to write stories for the Children's Corner of Jain Darshan. Some of the well wishers suggested that if they are published in the book form, that would be useful specially to those who are involved in teaching. I had therefore compiled 40 stories belonging to the ancient period and had been thinking to publish them. I was however waiting for suitable pictures to be included therein so as to make them more interesting..
Since the required pictures were not forthcoming, I approached Mahavir Seva Trust of Malad, Bombay for permitting to make use of the pictures published in Diwakar Chitrakatha. Since the Managing Editor was kind enough to give the permission, I have inserted some of those pictures in this book and hence the book sees the light of the day.
Jain Society of Greater Boston had published 100 copies of this book under slightly different title on the occasion of Pathshala conference held at Boston in May 1998. As such, this happens to be a reprint. While doing that I have taken the opportunity to make some minor changes.
While writing these stories, I have tried to keep aside the role of divinity which usually plays important part in Jain stories. I hope that the approach would be in tune with the present trend and the readers would like to read them as they are presented. My primary interest is to make the reading more interesting. I would therefore appreciate if the readers convey to me their feeling about these stories.
As usual, my colleague, Dilip Shah has devoted his valuable time in presenting the material in the proper form.
Lake Forest IL 60045
December 28, 1998
Manu Doshi
