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SADDAL PUTRA
Saddal Putra was one among the ten famous shravak disciples of Bhagavan Mahavir. He was one of the accomplished and successful artisan traders of his time. An artisan was also called Gathapati and Kumbhakar in the language of those days. Besides the family business of manufacturing and marketing beautiful and artistic earthen pots, he was also in agriculture and cattle business.
The descriptions in Jain Agams inform that besides his business acumen, he also had profound knowledge of religion and spiritualism. He was an important pillar of the Ajivak sect headed by Acharya Gaushalak. The doctrine of Gaushalak was-"Everything automatically happens according to one's fate. Man is nothing but a puppet of fate." Saddal Putra also believed in this Niyativaad (fatalism). But Bhagavan Mahavir preached the doctrine of endeavour or karma "Man suffers consequences of his deeds. He writes his own fate."
Bhagavan Mahavir explained this doctrine of endeavour to Saddal Putra with practical logic. Consequently he was disillusioned with fatalism and became a true follower of the doctrine of karma.
His faith in the true principles of Bhagavan Mahavir became so deep rooted that, all the efforts by Gaushalak failed to move him. Gods too took rigorous tests of his religiosity and he passed with flying colours. Till the end of his life he continued to be sincere in his religious pursuits. The source of this picturestory of Saddal Putra is Upasak-dasha Sutra. The second story is about Vijay Kumar and Vijaya. This couple took the vow of celibacy on the first night of their marriage and remained steadfast all their life. Jain poets have composed numerous poetical works on this theme in Sanskrit, Gujarati and Rajasthani.
Editor:
Srichand Surana 'Saras'
Managing Editors:
Dr. Mansukhbhai Jain, Sanjay Surana
Translator:
Surendra Bothara
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