Jaina Method Of Curing

Author(s): Manju Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 70

Om hrim arham namo āgasã-"gaminam (Jhraum jhraum namah swāhā)
Evidential Story - 22
Since ages immemorial battles had been fought between Jindevi devatas and false devi devatas. This story is also about such an interesting episode. The king of Ujjain shri Chandra was a faithful religious man. Mahichandra was the only son of his minister. Motisagar. The king had taken up on himself the responsibility of educating the promising son of his minister. As a result the boy Mahichandra became well versed in both earthly and spiritual matters. By the grace and guidance of his guru he became greatly devoted to Mahaprabhanak Bhaktamar stotra.
One day a vitaragi named Digambar muniraj came along searching for a quiet place for meditation and reached an uninhabited and neglected cave. He found the lonely place fit for concentration and meditation. He sat down there in padmasana for meditation. No one was aware that Vijantar sects devi Kali resided in that old and uninhabited came. The appearance of chandi (Kali) was like her name i.e. dreadful, scary expression, violent weapons, her attire decorated with weapons of a terrorizing nature. How could she tolerate some other persons intruding into their residence?
As per her nature she became violent. She scared the muniraj who was peacefully meditating and let loose violent animals on him. But the muniraj immersed in deep meditation was not at all disturbed. He considered all these as the fruits of his past deeds. While the world outside was thinking that the muniraj was in great trouble in reality he was blissfully in contact with his soul. When king Shrichandra heard that a muniraj was being troubled by chandi Kali in a cave he immediately called Mahichandra and asked him to oust her from there. Mahichandra Chanted Namokar mantra sitting near the muniraj and started reciting Bhaktamar stotra. As he reached the 22nd and 23rd shloka, devi Manastambhinidevi appeared and asked him what he wanted. He said. "I do not want anything for myself, Devi chandis terror is causing a lot of problem in my meditation. I want peace here". Devi said, "Probably she does not know that Peace defeats violence always.
Probably she does not even know that violent feelings come from outside whereas feeling of peace is the nature of the inner self-soul.
As the Jindevi Man stambhini smilingly closed her eyes and lifted her right hand up, chandi devi's weapons started falling from her hands. Magical ghosts, wolves, cheetahs, all types of violent animals ran away and chandi devi fell at the feet of Manastambhini devi and asked for Pardon. Devi said, "Oh wicked one ! By troubling others you feel happy". Not me but this peaceful muniraj only can pardon you". But how could muniraj pardon? Munis are always peaceful and see everybody as equals. He is not bothered about pardon or anger. His nectarly words transformed the wicked chandi devi into a Jin devotee. Now the atmosphere was nonviolent and peaceful. The feelings of anger and violence had surrendered to those of peace. The wicked chandi devi obtained equanimity.