Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 81

forgivance. They also realized the efficacy of Jainism. The main difference between Jainism and Buddhism lies in respect of existence or inexistance of the soul. The way Subhadra had exercised her spirituality, they got convinced of the existence of the soul and therefore adopted the Jain faith. Subhadra felt happy that she had at last gained what she was looking for and spent many years thereafter in the midst of happiness.
Later on, Subhadra thought it was the time for her to devote the rest of the life entirely to the spiritual pursuit. She already had the in-depth study of Jainisn and had been faithfully practicing the same as laid down for the house holders. What was now required was to practice the same exhaustively. For that purpose, she renounced the family life and became a nun. In that capacity, she scrupulously observed the code of conduct for the renounced. Thus combining the trinity of knowledge(Jnän), faith(Darshan) and conduct(Charitra) in her life, she gained omniscience or Kewaljnän and ultimately attained the liberation.
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KALÄVATI
Long back in Mälwä (One part of the present State of Madhya Pradesh) there was a king named Vijaysen. He had a son named Jaysen and a daughter named Kalävati. Both of them were very smart and lovable. At the appropriate age they were sent to school. Bright and intelligent as they were, both of them quickly mastered the different arts and crafts that were taught at that time. Jaysen was also given necessary training in the State crafts. Kalävati studied all the fine arts and got known as a highly accomplished girl. She was very pretty from the childhood and as she became young, she turned out to be one of the most beautiful and graceful girls of that time.
The king was now eager to find out a suitable match for her. It was customary during those days to hold a Swayamvar for the girls of royal family. Swayamvar means the selection of the match by the girl herself. For that purpose all the well known kings and princes, who were considered suitable candidates for marrying the girl, were invited to attend the function. At the appointed time the bride used to come forth with a garland. She would pass by the candidates one after another and listen to their biodata and other particulars so as to enable her to make the decision. If she liked any one of them, she would lay the garland around the neck of that candidate. On some occasions the bride or her father also used to stipulate some test that the candidates had to undergo for being eligible to get the girl and the candidate who succeeded in the test could marry the girl.
Vijaysen decided to hold such Swayamvar for getting a match for Kalävati. For that purpose he sent invitation to many kings and princes to attend the function. On that occasion Kalavati had stipulated that whoever wants to marry her, should give satisfactory replies to four questions of hers. Since she was known everywhere as the prize girl of that time, every one was eager to get her hand and arrived for the function with all possible pomp and splendor. Among the candidates was also the king Shankh of Shankhpuri who was one of the bravest and the most handsome kings of that time.
On the appointed day Kalavati came to the Mandap with the garland. As she saw King Shankh, she was very much impressed and wished that he would be able to give correct replies to her questions. The questions were as under.
1) Which is the true god to be worshipped?
2) Who is the true Guru?