BHUTMATI

In a village named Kanthpur there lived a Brahmin named Bhutmati who was educated at Benaras. He was not married till late in life as he had no proper means of maintenance. He was running a ‘Pathshala’ (religious school) to earn his livelihood.
Some of his followers gave him money for marriage and he married a beautiful Brahmin maiden named Yagnadatta. With the passage of time he became very much attached to her with love and found himself very happy in her company.
Many students from abroad came to his Pathshala for studies. One student named Devdatt was poor and so he was allowed to live with Bhutmati at his place with food provisions. Devdatt made good progress in his studies as he was very clever. Bhutmati also was very fond of him. Devdatt became very friendly with Yagnadatta.
Yagnadatta was young and she found no satisfaction with her husband, Bhutmati. She was attracted to Devdatt. In the meanwhile Bhutmati received an invitation to officiate a ceremony at Mutra city. He was likely to earn some money and fame there, so he decided to attend the event.
While leaving the place he said to his wife: “I cannot bear your separation even for a moment but as we are running short of money I must go. I will return after four months and in the meanwhile you live cautiously and be on your guard.”
Hearing these words, Yagnadatta said: “I cannot live without you even for a day, so postpone your journey for the present.” Bhutmati said: “I equally cannot bear your separation, but grant me leave with pleasure and I will return as soon as I finish my job.” Yagnadatta granted him leave with pleasure and Bhutmati instructed Devdatt to take care of the house and his wife.
Yagnadatta was now alone and she requested Devdatt to enjoy with her sensual pleasures; the only reward of youth. Devdatt was reluctant but later on he stooped to her carnal cravings. Devdatt became proof to all moral consciousness in course of time. Four months had almost passed and Devdatt said: “Now your husband will arrive and drive me out.”
Yagnadatta said: “Don’t worry, I will plan something so that we can live together for ever.” One night Yagnadatta brought from the funeral ground two corpses (male and female) and having placed them on the coach and on the verandah respectively, left the house after setting it on fire.
The fire spread quickly and the crowd tried to extinguish the fire but it took a few hours. They found two corpses totally burnt beyond identification; which were presumed to be the dead bodies of Yagnadatta and Devdatt. The news reached Bhutmati who was simply stunned with regret. He promptly returned to his town to find everything reduced to ashes. He fainted and on regaining consciousness piteously lamented for his beloved wife Yagnadatta and wept for Devdatt too with words of affection.
A Brahmin friend who knew of the illicit communion of Yagnadatta and Devdatt said, “The wise don’t lament after the happenings. Most women are very cunning and so it does not befit you to rely on a woman so much.”
His words were true but a man under delusion could not find them palatable. Bhutmati on the contrary said to his Brahmin friend: “How dare you preach to me ? I am quite clever to judge the character of my wife Yagnadatta. I can’t erase her grace and virtues from my mental screen. Oh, Yagnadatta, when shall I see you ? Oh ! Devdatt, you too have left me.”
That Brahmin friend said: “Even the sense of highly learned men get stagnant under intense delusion as you don’t hear relish my words which are beneficial for you. Whatever her character, you shall not see her now, therefore, cast aside your attachment for her and pray to God for making the best of your life you have left”.
All his well-wishers left after expressing their felt condolences. Bhutmati having packed the ashes of the (presumed) dead bodies of his wife and friend left Kanthpur early the next morning to offer them to the waters of the sacred river Ganga.
Now watch the mysterious designs of fate. No sooner did Bhutmati enter a town near Ganga, he accidentally ran into Yagnadatta and Devdatt, who happened to be living there. They were extremely shocked to see Bhutmati face to face, but there was no alternative for them but to fall at Bhutmati’s feet. They said, “Oh Learned Scholar, pardon us. We repent much for our faults, we were just thinking of coming to you.”
Bhutmati said: “Who are you ? What are you talking about ?” Devdatt said: “Don’t you recognize us ? This is your beloved wife Yagnadatta and I am your favorite student Devdatt. We are talking with the learned scholar Bhutmati who imparted learning to the students of Kanthpur.”
But Bhutmati was not convinced. He said, “Oh, you scoundrels ! Don’t try to cheat me. I am the last man to be taken in by you. My beloved wife and my disciple have been already consumed in a fire that broke out suddenly in my house. I am going to offer the holy ashes to the sacred Ganga. You do appear like Yagnadatta and Devdatt but you are not them. You may be their spirits. Spirits often deceive human beings but bear in mind I am a Brahmin—Bhoo-Dev (earthly god). I can burn you down with my power of incantations. I spare you out of mercy. Leave from my sight or else terrible consequences shall follow.”
Yagnadatta and Devdatt got what they wanted. They immediately left. Bhutmati offered the ashes in Ganga. He said: “Oh, God, Oh Lord, Grant peace and bliss to the souls of the dead. They were so pure and deserved your mercy.”

MORAL LESSON: We can realize to what extent a man under delusion loses his wisdom and sense of truth. Most of time our vision is blinded by preoccupied mind. How can a person understand the religion, when he does not have the right knowledge of it ? Even highly learned people get stagnant under the intense delusion created by too much attachment with others.

BHIMKUMAR

King Narvahan reigned in the city of Kamalpur. His queen’s name was Malti, and his son’s name was Bhimkumar. The prince was well known for his physical vigor. One day, he saw a Muni in the garden and sat down near him. The Muni discovered a qualified soul in the prince and revealed to him the secrets of religion. The prince felt so inspired at this that he took the vows of a Shravak.
One day, a heretical Muni of the Kapalik order came to the prince. He carried some fruits and flowers in his hands. He placed them before the prince and said: “The great do not refuse a seeker. I have come to you with a request. May I hope that you will fulfill it ?”
He continued: “It is twelve years from now as you move back in the past that I started the propitiation of an art. It will reach its completion on the next Chaturdasi (fourteenth day of the fortnight). Now, on that day, I need someone to assist me, and, in my opinion, no one is more competent than you for that purpose. Hence I am here. Will you help me ?” The prince was never afraid of adventures. He agreed.
On the agreed day, he went with him. The minister’s son, who happened to be his friend, tried to prevent him, but the prince could not be dissuaded. With an unsheathed sword in his hand, the prince reached the cremation ground. The Kapalik marked a plot for his use, propitiated a goddess, and extended his hand to catch the prince’s head. The prince, who was very alert, thundered at once: “Stay away and mind your own business. One more step toward me, and your dead body will roll on the ground. You should know for certain that not even the Devs are capable of facing me.”
This upset the Kapalik’s entire plan. So he thought of exerting strength and attacked the prince with an open knife in his hand. The Kapalik shouted: “Prince ! Remember your God ! You didn’t respond to my persuasion, so I must subdue you by force. I must have your head. This is absolutely essential for completion of my propitiation.”
The prince laughed at him without showing any concern. “Fool ! Only the weak have submitted to your threats. The head of a lion is never within the reach of a jackal like you.”
A duel started at once. The prince gave such a severe blow on the heretic’s head that he fell on the ground. The prince was on his neck. Once he thought of severing it, but the next moment he took pity on the poor soul and released him after giving him a good thrashing. Once free, the ungrateful Kapalik caught the prince unaware and hurled him into the sky. The prince was at once held by a Yaksha’s wife, Kamala by name, who was at that moment flying overhead. She liked him very much and brought him straight to her abode on the Vaitadhya hills.
The prince was under a vow of restricted celibacy and did not respond to the lusty overtures of the Yaksha lady. Kamala was a good soul. She appreciated the steadfastness of the prince and praised him eloquently.
When the two were in conversation, the prince heard some musical instruments being played in accompaniment with some chanting. On inquiry, the prince learned that a few Munis were there in the neighborhood. He expressed keenness to see them. As he was escorted there, a demon made a sudden appearance and snatched away the prince’s sword. The prince at once caught him and mounted on his back to bring him down. But the demon had great physical strength. With the prince on his back, he flew in the sky and landed near a temple.
Inside the temple stood the Kapalik, holding a young man by his hair and thundering: “Remember your God. These are your last moments. I shall cut your head off with this sword.” Undaunted by the terrible environment, the youth was heard saying: “I seek refuge with the Jinas, who are free from lust and attachment. Bhimkumar is my savior; I beseech refuge with him, too.” At these words, the Kapalik’s rage reached its peak. He shouted: “Don’t mention his name, you wretch. He is a coward, and you should be ashamed in beseeching refuge with him. Had he been really powerful, he would not have hidden from my gaze.”
Just then the prince made his appearance and said: “You rascal ! Why do you want to kill him ?” When the Kapalik saw Bhimkumar, he released the young man and ran after Bhimkumar. They started a deadly battle between the two. But soon the prince got the upper hand and held the heretic against the ground, telling him: “My dear fellow ! In your life, you have asked many to remember their God. Now it is your turn to do the same. There is no one to save you.”
Just then the goddess whom the Kapalik worshipped, came down from the image, and, addressing the prince, said: “Prince ! I am impressed by your courage. I beseech you to release my devotee. Please spare his life. I am here to give you a boon.”
The prince said: “Goddess ! If you are really pleased with me and desire to give me a boon, then I pray you to desist from this carnage from today on. You should agree that life is dear to everybody. I beseech nothing else.” The goddess agreed and disappeared.
The prince now turned to the young man and was delighted to find that it was the minister’s son. He at once embraced him and said: “My dear friend ! This heretic was no stranger to you. Then how did you step into his trap ?”
The minister’s son answered: “Since you disappeared, we were very anxious. Search was made everywhere and in all directions, but without fruitful result. Then the family deity was propitiated, and we had it from her that you were safe and would soon return home with great laurels. Now, as I was out to hear the talk of the town about you, this scoundrel caught me and brought me here.”
As the two were talking, there appeared a colossal elephant. With its stout trunk, it picked up the two on its back and flew away. The two were placed outside a deserted city, and the elephant disappeared. Leaving the minister’s son outside the city, the prince moved in. There he met a man-lion who had the face of a human being but the body of a lion. He held a man between his teeth, and the man was bitterly weeping. When the prince asked the animal to release the man, the animal said: “I have been very hungry for a long time. After a long gap, I have my food. How can I let it go ?”
The prince said: “It appears to me, my dear fellow, that you have a Vaikriya (fluid) body. I wonder how your body takes a human being as its food !” The man-lion responded: “You are right, Sir. But he is my inveterate enemy from previous life. How do you think I can release him ? I will kill him, and that alone will pacify my anger.”
The prince tried utmost persuasion, but when that failed, he applied force. He rescued the man from the animal’s mouth and stabbed the animal so severely that he fled for his life.
Now, with the same vehemence, he reached the palace. There he was very cordially received by several maids. One produced a jar full of pure water, another washed the prince’s feet, a third offered to take him to bath, a fourth offered him food, and a fifth decorated him in costly robes and ornaments. The prince silently obliged all.
Just then a Dev came, and, on inquiry from the prince, made the following statement: “This city is named Kanakpur, where once reigned king Kanakrath. His priest Sudatt was a fallen man and was very much despised by the residents of this city. Since the priest would not improve, the matter was reported to the king, who severely chastised the priest. Unfortunately, the priest died of depression. That priest is now born as a demon. I am that demon, and sometime earlier, you saw me as a man-lion. The man whom you rescued from my mouth was the king himself. But I congratulate you for your courage. It is I who arranged for your reception at the palace. It is my great power again that has made the residents of this city invisible.”
Just then a Kevali arrived at the city park. The prince, the minister’s son, and the Dev went to him. Even the elephant came there trumpeting wildly and dangling his trunk. The Kevali, who was in the midst of his sermon, changed his topic and said: “This elephant is really a Yaksha who was the grandfather of king Kanakrath. He brought Bhimkumar to this place to rescue his grandson. As Bhimkumar has saved the king, the Yaksha is under a debt of gratitude to him.”
The elephant now changed into a Yaksha and this lent support to the words of the Kevali. The Yaksha then turned to the prince and requested him to return to his city from which he was absent for a long time. His parents were very much in distress ever since his disappearance in the company of the Kapalik. The Yaksha even offered to help him to return.
Then, at the prince’s request, he built an air-chariot on which the prince and the minister’s son mounted. They soon returned to their own city. The king and the queen were very happy to see their lost son. At the right moment, Bhimkumar was placed on the throne, the king abdicating in his favor. Needless to say, Bhimkumar had a glorious reign, and he spent his last days in the holy order of Munis, attaining liberation at death.

ASHOK - THE KING IN THE HERMIT’S DRESS

Many people wondered: “How can a nation be defended if its people adopt nonviolence?” It is a rather difficult and hypothetical question. However, an emperor by the name of Ashok ruled India with nonviolence and compassion in the third century, BC. Ashok was the emperor of peace and social justice; he did not rule by force or accumulating material goods and wealth. Rather, he ruled by treating all his subjects equally and justly. His example can guide us in establishing peace and justice in the today’s world.
Ashok was the grandson of the famous Chandragupta Maurya, a stringent follower Jainism (A Shraman). Ashok succeeded his father, Bindusara, in 270 BC, and subsequently inherited a kingdom that ranged from Afghanistan to Madras.
In the first year of his regime, he decided to annex a few small states to his empire, beginning with Orissa (Kaling). However, he was touched by the cruelties, horrors, and evils of warfare. Upon seeing the human suffering and bloodshed, he renounced war and developed an attitude of kindness and humanity.
As his father and grandfather followed Jainism, Ashok rose above religious intolerance and communalism. Many historians say that Ashok was neither a Jain nor a Buddhist, rather a kind ruler who presented a compromising, noncommunal practical religious way to morally uplift and rule his people. Ashok stopped expanding his kingdom and instead followed the principle of Ahimsa.
He spent his days in the moral, social, and economic pursuit of the happiness of his subjects. He treated all people as his children, and built schools and hospitals for men and animals. He had trees planted along the roads and erected rest areas for travelers. He established institutions for medical, religious, and philosophical education. Ashok sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand and the Far East. Although he favored Buddhism, he was tolerant of all other religions. One of his edicts reads, “All religions deserve reverence for some reason or another.”
Thus, a man exalts his own religion, and at the same time, does service to the religion of other people. To learn here, the foremost is that even an Emperor can be content and follow Ahimsa (Non-violence) to rule Kingdom. We see religious tolerance for others, devotion, and kindness, all these from a man who was the Emperor.

ASANGMATA

King Atimardan reigned in the city of Ratnapur. His son’s name was Lalitang. Lalitang was not only a worthy son but was highly accomplished.
It was spring and people had flocked to a public park. The prince was there too, and so was the minister’s young and charming wife. It was an accident that their four eyes met.
The prince sent one of his peers to inquire of the woman when he could meet her alone. The lady sent back the following message:
“Such a thing is by no means easy. My husband is so suspicious that he rarely lets me go out alone, nor does he allow anybody to come to our home. But there is one way. There is a dry well adjacent to our house. Let the prince dig a tunnel linking that well to his palace chamber. Once this is done, I shall take opportunity to quarrel with my husband and jump into the well. I shall then enter the tunnel and be with the prince. That will not be a short meeting, but rather a permanent union.”
The prince did accordingly. When the tunnel was ready, on an agreed day, the woman quarreled with her husband and jumped into the well. From there, she took the tunnel and soon she was at the prince’s chamber.
Now, as the woman jumped into the well, no one had seen her. So they started a complete search of the city and its suburbia. Even the well was not spared, but the woman was found nowhere, dead or alive.
When the matter reached the ears of the king, he held the minister guilty of murdering his wife and ordered for him imprisonment for life and forfeiture of his entire property. When the prince heard of the king’s order, he was afraid and mortified. He knew more than anyone else that he had been the cause of the poor minister’s fall. But more than that he was apprehensive on his own score. His entire reputation would go to mud the moment it were known that the minister’s wife was the prince’s concubine.
Thus thoroughly shaken, the prince fled the palace at once and entered into a forest, where he saw a Muni, to whom he said, “Holy Sir ! I am a culprit. Can I be absolved of my guilt ?”
The Muni saw a qualified soul in the prince and encouraged him to join the holy order. The prince agreed, and thus started a new chapter in his life.
Once Muni Lalitang reached a park outside the city of Khsempur. There, on the bank of the river, he started Kayotsarga (meditation). In the same city, there lived an atheist named Asangmata who had neither respect for parents, elders and superiors, nor faith in the religion. By nature, he was very arrogant.
It so happened that the river at that time was in spate, and the whole area was merged under deep water except the ground where the Muni stood. The news took no time to reach the city, and people flocked to see this wonder. Many touched his feet and many derived inspiration from his conduct.
This aroused a tremendous jealousy in the atheist. Men like him are no better than flies who do not appreciate real beauty but relish sitting on sores. He at once reached the bank of the river, tied the Muni with a chain, piled logs around him and set fire to them. The Muni took at ease the fire-bath, and the flames could do him no harm.
The next morning, when the atheist saw it with his own eyes, he was shaken to the core. He realized the great power of penance and bent his head low in reverence before the Muni. There he stood, calm and fixed, reviewing within himself the whole situation. He was a wholly changed man now, changed in thought and in conduct, and the process was so quick that almost in a moment the shackles of Karmas were destroyed and he still stood, facing the Muni, in possession of Kevalgnan.

ARAM SHOBHA’S PREVIOUS BIRTH

At Champapuri, there lived a very rich merchant named Kuladhar. Kulnand was the name of his wife. The merchant had seven daughters named as follows: Kamalashri, Kamalavati, Kamala, Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Jayamati and Priyakarini. They were as beautiful as they were proficient. They were all married to merchants of very noble birth.
An eighth daughter was born to Kuldhar, but she was less fortunate. The parents were so unhappy at her birth that they did not perform even her naming ceremony. The girl grew up and stepped from childhood into youth. But her father was indifferent to her future happiness and did not bother to settle her in life. If some member of his household drew his attention to this, he would only say that she would be settled as soon as a right groom was available, and that he was on the lookout for one.
One day, as the merchant was seated at his shop, a stranger young man came up to him. His dress was poor and his hairs were disheveled and infested with lice.
The merchant said to him: “ Who are you ? Where do you come from ? What country do you belong to ?” The youth replied: “Sir, I belong to Koshalpur. Nandi is the name of my father and Soma is my mother’s name. My own name is Nandan. I am penniless. I went to Chand Desh to do business but my ill-luck followed me even there. At Chand Desh lives a merchant named Vasantdev who belongs to this city. I am employed in his service. He has sent me with a letter which is to be delivered at his house, but I don’t know its location. It will be a great favor done to me if you could direct me there.”
Kuladhar thought within himself that this would be a right groom for his youngest daughter. If I settle my daughter’s marriage with this young man, then I can get rid of her. He said to the youth: “Young man, you deliver the letter at Vasantdev’s house and come back at once.”
The merchant sent one of his attendants to accompany him. The young man came back to Kuldhar as he was asked to do. After he had finished his shower, the merchant gave him clothes and food, and then, at the right moment, he placed the proposal for his daughter’s marriage to him.
The youth said: “I have to return this very day, Sir.” The merchant replied: “There will be no difficulty. I shall make every arrangement accordingly, and the ceremony itself will not take much time. For your subsistence, I shall later bestow wealth on you.”
The young man agreed, and the marriage ceremony was over within a few hours. The daughter bade good-bye to her parents’ home. The couple then set out on the road to Chand Desh. When they were near Avanti Desh, they took shelter in a temple to pass the night there. It was the dead of night, and the bride was fast asleep. The young man thought that as my wife is with me, I cannot walk as fast as I would like to. And if I go slowly like this, it will be necessary to spend a long time on the way. I have scanty means to support both of us in the journey, and if it is exhausted, I would be forced to beg. That will be highly unbecoming of me. So why don’t I give up my bride here ? This will save me from a probable calamity. Thinking in this manner, he picked up whatever things he could and immediately left the place.
At sunrise, when the wife woke up, she found neither her husband nor the means to support herself. She could hardly think of such a thing happening but was soon reconciled to the hard reality and set her mind on the future.
For a moment she thought of going back to her parents, but then she thought about the life she had lived there and the sort of reception she would receive now, and then she decided to court suffering to going back to a life of scorn. But the very next moment she thought as to who would support her and how she would begin this new life. The prospect of begging was not at all palatable, but she gathered courage and confidence and thought, If all living beings support themselves, I too can do the same. I will take up some work to support myself, but I shall preserve my purity.
The brave lose nothing; instead, they find a way. The woman got up and reached the marketplace of the city of Vishala. She stood in front of the shop of merchant Manibhadra. She looked at him, as he looked at her. She had a feeling that this was a good man. So she came nearer and said: “Father, I am on the lookout for some work. It will be a great favor if you could give me some.”
Manibhadra felt compassion for her, but he hesitated to take an unknown woman into his household. He asked who she was and why she was there. The woman said: “Sir, I am the daughter of merchant Kuladhar of Champapuri. I was on my was to Chand Desh with my husband, but unfortunately I have been separated from him. So, I have come to you to seek some job so that my days of suffering may be easily spent.”
Manibhadra consoled her and showed her affection. He invited her to stay in his household, and she was placed in charge of his household affairs. He sent men in search of her husband, but no trace of him could be found. He also made confidential inquiries about her parents, and they tallied with what she had told him. So she was installed in Manibhadra’s family with full dignity, and, on her part, she won the affection of everybody by dint of her good behavior.
Now, Manibhadra built a magnificent Jain temple with high gates and colorful flags. Kuldhar’s daughter went there daily to offer prayer and worship. She came into contact with the nuns and acquired the knowledge of Nav Tattva (nine doctrines). Now she became a Shravika like the great Sulasa, steadfast in equanimity. Manibhadra was never niggardly to fulfill her wishes and held her in great esteem.
Once she desired to donate three gold umbrellas bedecked with jewels to be placed to cover the head of the Jina image, and this was readily arranged. Much of her time was now devoted to penance, service to the holy order, and sundry religious activities.
One day Manibhadra sat deeply immersed in anxiety when Kuldhar’s daughter came to him and inquired about the cause. In apprising her of the situation, the merchant said: “For the worship of the god, the king entrusted me with the upkeep of a flower garden, and flowers collected there were used daily for worship. But today the garden is suddenly dry. I tried my best to restore it to freshness, but all my efforts have been in vain. I don’t know what hard steps the king would now take against me for this.”
She said: “Father, please don’t suffer with anxiety. Leave the matter to me. I shall set it right. I command rock-like purity, and until the garden is restored to freshness, I give up my four types of foods.” The merchant said, “Don’t say that, my daughter. Please don’t put me to ridicule by taking my anxiety wholly on yourself.” She said: “Father, you know, a vow taken once cannot be broken. You will just see that all the adverse forces will give way to the strength of my spirit.”
Kuldhar’s daughter returned to the Jina temple. Bowing before the image, she immersed herself deep in Kayotsarga (meditation). She touched neither food nor drink. A day passed, followed by a second and then a third. At last, Shasandevi, the controlling Devi of the order, made her appearance on the third night and said: “My daughter, a Dev with a wrong outlook has played havoc with the garden. But he could not withstand your purity and has fled. Your vow is fulfilled, and in the morning you will find the garden restored to its freshness.”
The morning saw the miracle happen. The garden was restored to its beauty and freshness. Manibhadra was astonished. He rushed to Kuldhar’s daughter at the temple premises to break the news and congratulate her. He said: “My daughter, my wishes have been fulfilled by the strength of your purity and penance. It behooves you to break the fast now.”
With the speed of lightning, the news reached every household in the town, and all the men and women of the town, came rushing to the temple. All spoke highly of her purity and the merchant’s good luck who has such a worthy daughter in his house. Kuldhar’s daughter first offered food to the Munis, served the same to the members of her order, and then broke her fast.
This was indeed a great day for the religion of the Jina. Many days passed thereafter. One night, at a late hour, as Kuldhar’s daughter lay awake in her bed, a thought came to her: By good fortune, I am born in the order of the Jina. But I cannot practice the great vows. This will be a severe failure on my part, so I must make the best use of whatever limited capacity I have for spiritual advance.
Now, she changed the course of her life. Sometimes she would fast for two days, sometimes for three days, and sometimes for four days, raising the duration gradually to a fortnight and then to a month. This reduced her body. Then she undertook the final fast and ended her life through auspicious meditation.
Thereafter she was born in heaven and named Saudharmalok. Having completed her life there, she has been born in the house of Brahmin Agnisharma as his daughter and has been named Vidyutprabha.