Jaina Method Of Curing

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

Page 99

Evidential Story 34
King Bhimsen was the Emperor of Banaras. His might (Supremacy) had spread to nearby kingdom. The king had only one weakness that he used to be surrounded by flatterers. The king was inclined towards religions to some extent, but the pride of his might was an obstruction to become a true follower of religion. Using this weakness, his flatterers requested the king to establish a new religion which would have the essence of all religions. Now the king got addicted to this idea. He entrusted this work to many scholars but they could not concoct the mixture. At last the king himself compiled various principles of religions and established a new religion. This swelled his pride. He constructed a temple of new religion near his palace. He made it compulsory for everyone to follow the new religion and visit the new temple leaving temples of their choice. This compulsion displeased many, they left the kingdom and settled elsewhere. Many powerful people started conspiring against the administration. Irritated by this the King got the temples and mosques of other religions dis mantled and got temples of new religions constructed. Completely intoxicated by power he forgot that not everybody can establish a religion. Men can be benefitted by religions established by Tirthankaras, Devas and prophets. The king by demeaning other religions had committed servers in. The fruits of his inauspicious deeds started surfacing soon when this so called prophet's today was inflicted with leprosy with the six months. His strong and beautiful body had now become very weak and ugly. The bones, flesh and skin had dried up. His favorite queen Sudarshana was scared to look at him. The king whose order was obeyed like that of God was now ignored by his subjects and officials.
While touring for spreading the Jain religion, Munishree Buddhakirtiji arrived in Banaras king Bhimsen also went for his darshan, prostrated at his feet and narrated his unfortunate story. Munishree thought for a while with his divine vision and then said, 'O king! It's a great sin to defame any religion. The intoxicated elephant plunders and ruins but when he sobers down (intoxicated) he becomes weak and suffers a lot. Intoxicated by youth the young misuse their power but they repent later in old age. Similarly you intoxicated by power defamed other religions, put restrictions on their followers and committed severe sin by destroying and desecrating temples. But now you are suffering (due to) its ill effects".
The kings pride was washed away (meited) by now therefore with great humility he requested - "Munishree please give me a remedy for my suffering". The Munishree taught him the 34th and 35th shlokas of Bhaktamar stotra with mantra, explained its meaning and said "If chanted with devotion your sufferings will annihilate". King Bhimsena did great penance for three days and chanted the 34th and 35th shlokas of the great Bhaktamar stotra with mantras, without break that the Jindevi Chakreshwari appeared and said - "get up son! Your desire will be fulfilled. Do abhisheka for Lord Adinath and sanctify your body with gandh". Saying so the devi vanished. The king did as told. The next day all the queen's found the king healty once again and devotedly did his aarti. The courtiers welcomed the king and the entire city and the palace echoed with auspicious songs.