Jaina Method Of Curing

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

Page 85

The intoxication of youth is such, that it makes even good people stray from the good path. In the intoxication of youth the intoxication flower laughs (out) almond for one day, i.e. it blossoms for one day, but the very next day fall on the earth on their face. Young age is like a blossomed bud, on which bees hover take its nectar and then leave it half spirited (energized). Roop kundali was the extremely beautiful daughter of king Prithvipal. She was intoxicated with her beauty and youth. Her beauty was such that it could make cupid blush (cupid would feel ashamed or modest). Her beauty with the glow of the moon looked like a celestial maid (apsara). At the age of 16 her intoxicating youthfulness made her all the more intoxicated. Due to this pride she would consider her friends inferior to her and would show off her beauty to them. One day as she was taking a stroll in a garden a naked digambar muniraj crossed (came) by. Intoxicated by her youth Roopkundali signalled her maids to tease him. Munishree tolerated it without feeling anything. Roop Kundati also slandered him for his ugly body and nakedness. Not only that but intoxicated by her youthfulness Roopkundali drew colourful pictures on the naked body of Munishree who was seated on a rock and made him resemble a cartoon. Thus making fun of him she went back to her palace. Munishree finished his dhyan (Meditation) and without any sorrow, spite or anger walked towards he forest. Children were laughing at him but he did not bother. It is a rule of nature 'as you sow, so shall you reap". Roop kundali had sinned being proud of her beauty and youth and by further slandering and insulting the muniraj she had sinned terribly. The pots of sins were filled. As she reached home her beautiful body, due to terrible sin of slandering the muniraj, became infected with leprosy. At last her pride for her beauty and youth fell flat on the earth. Now an average ugly looking youngman would also turn away with repulsion. Friends would say sarcastically "Where are you oh beautiful Roopkundali who would, defeat kamdar (cupid) ? When the great physicians also could not cure her leprosy she understood that it was the fruit of the sin she had committed in slandering the muniraj. Realizing this she went to the forest and fell at his feet and said, "Oh ocean of mercy! I was blinded by pride of my beauty therefore (and) I sinned terribly by insulting you as a result of which I am suffering. Oh Lord ! Please rid me of this sin." Vitaragi muniraj did not know that someone was suffering because of him. In order to annihilate the suffering he said compassionately, lady (devi)! By chanting the 28th shloka of the effective Bhaktamar stotra with riddhi and mantra you will get rid of this terrible disease. The fruits of Roopsundali's past misdeeds were coming to an end therefore she was very pleased to hear the discourse on Jain religion by the great muniraj who dealt everyone equally. She prostrated at his feet and returned home. She recited the Bhaktamar stotra without break and chanted the 28th shloka with riddhi and mantra relentlessly for 3 days and nights. As a result, her entire body glowed like gold again. When the news reached the palace the king Prithvipal along with his wife reached the leper home which was situated on the eastern side and was delighted to see their daughter healthy and beautiful. In order to glorify the Jain religion the king got a Jin temple constructed near the leper home and installed a great and beautiful idol of Lord Shri Adinath. After some time then king found a good match in Gunashekhar for his daughter's marriage. But Roopkundali had understood now how to use this perishable body which she had got after much spiritual merit. Therefore politely and with great firmness she refused to get married and vowed to remain a celibate all her life and become an aryika.
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