Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 79

There was another city named Champäpuri where there was a well to do Buddhist family. They had a son named Buddhadäs. He was smart, handsome and intelligent. He had heard about Subhadra and was aspiring to marry her. When he came to know that Subhadrä would marry only a Jain bridegroom, he decided to feign as a Jain. For this purpose, he learnt all the details of Jainism as well as its code of conduct and started professing Jainism. Since Vasantpur was not very far away from Champäpuri, he frequently went there with the professed intention of visiting the Jain temples of that place. In due course he came to be known as a devoted Jain.
While he was once praying in the temple of Vasantpur, Jindäs happened to come there. Seeing him, Buddhadas decided to display his devotion for Jainism. He professed to be totally absorbed in the prayer. Jindäs noticed that and was highly impressed by the sense of his devotion. When the prayer was over, Jindäs asked him who he was and from where he was coming. Buddhadas replied that he lived in Champäpuri and had been to Vasantpur by way of pilgrimage. As he mentioned about his family, Jindäs was taken aback; because he knew it to be a Buddhist family. Buddhadäs however told him with apparent humbleness that having learnt about Jainism, he had lost faith in Buddhism and had adopted Jainism.
Jindas was impressed by that reply and knowing him to be a co-religionist, he invited him for dinner at his place. Buddhadas accepted the same with an apparent sense of hesitation. During the dinner, he remained careful to let Jindäs know that he knew all the intricacies of Jainism. His courteous behavior also pleased every one. Jindäs and Tattvamälini therefore considered him a suitable candidate for Subhadra and asked him to be their guest whenever he came to Vasantpur. Buddhadas was actually waiting for such an opportunity and gladly accepted the offer. Thereby he could come in close contact with Subhadra. In due course Jindäs could notice that Subhadra had developed affection for Buddhadäs. It was therefore decided to offer her hand in marriage to him and accordingly the wedding took place on an auspicious day with great fanfare.
Subhadra came to Champäpuri with the fondest expectations. She was however disappointed when she came to know that her in laws were staunch Buddhists and despised Jainism. Her disappointment grew when she could figure out that her husband too was Buddhist at heart and had deceived her by professing Jainism. As a true Jain girl she however accepted what was destined for her and continued to practice her religion with the expectation that one day she would be in a position to convince Buddhadäs and his family about the truth underlying the Jainism.
Her mother in law was particularly against her performing of Jain practices. She tried to disturb her in all possible ways while Subhadra would be performing Sämayika. She also raised obstacles to Subhadra's going to Jain temple and to the sermons of Jain monks. Buddhadas loved Subhadra and did not want to come in her way. But he was helpless against the insistence of his mother who resorted to harassing and abusing Subhadrä every now and then. But that did not perturb the faith of Subhadra and she continued to have her practices with a sense of equanimity.
Once it so happened that while the mother in law had been out, a Jain monk happened to come for alms. Subhadra had the opportunity to see a Jain monk after a very long time. She was very pleased to see him and devotedly offered the food that would be acceptable to him. While offering the food, Subhadrä could notice that the monk was afflicted by some particle in his eye. Subhadra thought that she could easily take out the particle with a piece of cloth. She therefore folded one end of her handkerchief so as to make it pointed, slightly moistened it and with that she carefully took out the particle without physically touching the monk.
At that very time her mother in law arrived. Seeing both of them standing close to each other, her rage knew no bounds. She shouted at the monk calling him lustful and beggar and drove him away. Then she turned to Subhadra and started abusing her with the accusation of adultery.