Nandishen Diwakar Chitrakatha 048

Author(s): Nityanandsuri, Chidanandmuni, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Mahavir Seva Trust Mumbai

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Nandishen
One who walks may fall also. But to rise again and be careful and determined enough to reach the destination is the victory of a man's sagacity and courage. The life of muni Nandishen is an example of this.
Nandishen was the son of King Shrenik of Magadh. After listening to the sermon of Bhagavan Mahavir he got initiated as an ascetic. He acquired many special powers through austerities. Once a courtesan made fun of his austerities. This provoked his subdued ego. Conceit leads to one's downfall. The courtesan seduced the ascetic and he became a householder. While caught in trap of love, Nandishen's soul still remained awake. One day he regained his spiritual awareness and returned to the path of selfcontrol and austerities.
The second short story in this book is 'Importance of Dress'. Udayan was the prime minister of King Kumarpal of Gujarat, a great devotee of Acharya Hemachandra Suri (12th century). During the last moments of his life he desired to listen to pious hymns recited by some ascetic. However, as there was no ascetic available, his sons brought an impersonator disguised as an ascetic and fulfilled the last wish of their father.
Whether it was the influence of the dress or the awakening of the inner piety but the impersonator disguised as ascetic became a true ascetic and took to the spiritual path.
The two stories included in this book inspire us to reverse the process of decline and climb the stair of spiritual rise. The author of these stories is Acharya Shrimad Vijaya Nityanand Surishvar ji M. who is famous as .restorer of many temples and pilgrimages. We express our gratitude for this and many other picture stories of this series.
Shrichand Surana 'Saras'
Written by : Acharya Shrimad Vijaya Nityanand Suri Editor :
Managing Editors : Muni Chidanand Vijaya Dr. Mansukhbhai Jain, Sanjay Surana
Translator: Surendra Bothara
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