ENLIGHTENMENT DURING WEDDING

Queen Padmavati saw a dream of an angel’s plane when the pious soul descended in her womb. She did religious activities during her pregnancy. One day she gave birth to a healthy boy and he was named Prithvi Chandra. The prince was detached and remained tranquil since his childhood. There was neither smile nor misery on his face. However he was expert in learning new things he took less time to learn everything. Actually he had purified his soul to a great extent since his past 11 births (21 total, out of which 10 was as a celestial being). Soon he became young and handsome prince. But his father was worried about his son’s detached nature. He convinced his son for marriage and eventually Prithvi Chandra got married with many girls including Princess Lalit Sundari. But he still remained detached and he kept his mind steady. He didn’t even attract towards his wives. Ever since he was a boy he had decided to take renunciation and convert his wives for the true path of liberation. He mentally thought this human incarnation is not for indulging in worldly pleasures but it is for attaining the state of eternal bliss by attaining liberation.

One day the king asked his son to accept the throne and allow him to take renunciation. The prince became worried and thought that I want to take renunciation but my father is asking me to accept the throne instead. I am not interested to indulging in the worldly matters. When I would fulfill my dream? However he accepted his father’s proposal. Finally he accepted the throne. One day a person named Sudhan came in his kingdom. The king Prithvi Chandra asked him,” from where are you coming? Is there any news from your place? The person replied,” Oh king! I am coming from Hastinapur, recently we have a strange event happened there!” Then he began to tell the story to the King.

“In our town, there is a person named Ratnasanchaya. His wife’s name is Sumangala. She gave birth to a son named Guna Sagar. She dreamed an ocean before giving birth to a son. The boy grew up and become a handsome boy. Now he has reached at his youth. One day eight girls were impressed by his beauty when he was passing through a street. One day Guna Sagar was sitting in his palace’s balcony and he saw a monk. He immediately dwelt deep into himself and thought that he has seen a person like this before. He remembered his childhood days but couldn’t get anything. He continued to thinking and he attained telepathy. Thus he acquired memories of his past births. He could see in his knowledge that he had taken renunciation in his past births. His heart filled with detachment. He quickly went to his parents and asked their permission for taking renunciation. He said the mundane lives are full of misery and sorrow, I want to reach to a state full and utmost happiness and that is liberation. His parents tried to convince him and said,” Oh son! You are still young and you haven’t enjoyed the worldly pleasures yet. This is not right time for you to accept monkhood. You can do this later.” Finally they converted him for marriage with eight girls. Guna Sagar had a condition that he would take renunciation on the second day after marriage. His parents accepted this and thought he would change his decision after marriage. Finally the day of his marriage approached. When Guna Sagar was sitting before the girls and the marriage ceremony started. He was again dwelt deep into his self and starts thinking that I would fall in the deep ocean of the never ending cycle of birth and death if I marry these girls and enjoy the worldly life. Then he thought,” No! I will take renunciation tomorrow and then I will observe strict austerities and finally I will make my soul free forever like a bird becomes free from a cage. Ah! From tomorrow the right time will begin for me! I will destroy all the karmas attached to my soul. I will remain attached with my soul!.”

While thinking this Guna Sagar attained enlightenment during marriage. By seeing this eight girls also filled with supreme non-attachment and they also attained enlightenment on that moment. The parents of Guna Sagar thought that their son was born to attain God hood and to become an Arihant. They were trying to convert his mind but they couldn’t. They started to hate their self as they became obstacle for their son. While thinking this also their parents attained enlightenment. The marriage arena now turned into a divine arena. Then the omniscient Guna Sagar gave sermon on the subject of his previous 21 births and said how one can purify his soul and reach the final state of an Arihant.”

By hearing all these from Sudhan, King Prithvi Chandra acquired telepathy, the memory of his previous lives. He thought, “Despite of knowing the true nature of mundane life, I got married and delayed my true purpose of this birth. How unlucky I am! Guna Sagar is really great who attained omniscience during marriage. On the other hand I am getting deeper in the ocean of birth and death. When I would attain salvation? When I would become Arihant?” By thinking this the King Prithvi Chandra also attained enlightenment while sitting on the throne of his palace! Then he gave sermon and resolved his previous births to the listeners. He said, “Me and Guna Sagar have been taking births together since 21 births as a husband and wife, friends and cousins”. Then he explained the bad results of indulging in worldly matters. Many of the listeners took various vows by hearing his discourse. After that Arihant Prithvi Chandra and Guna Sagar became an idol for many people to attain omniscience.

-Rahul Zota (Bhuj-Gujarat)

MISS CONTEMPLATION CAN LEAD TO SPIRITUAL DEGENARATION

The most important thing is to control on thoughts. Our thoughts can lay the soul to the hell or to heaven or to animal incarnation. Here is the best example related with Lord Parshva. Lord Parshva was the 23rd Tirthankar and lived some 3000 years ago. Today he is worshipped as much as Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankar.
The soul that was to be Lord Parshvanath was inspired to take the direction of purity in its birth as Marubhuti. He was born to the wife of Purohit Vishabhuti living in Potanpur city. His elder brother was Kamath. As Kamath was cruel, conceited, and a debauch, in spite of being the elder son it was Marubhuti who succeeded his father on the post of Rajpurohit (the director of ritual ceremonies of the king and state). Attracted toward the beautiful wife of Marubhuti, Vasundhara, Kamath seduced her. When Kamath’s wife came to know about the affair, she tried to dissuade him in vain and told Marubhuti about it. Marubhuti made a secret inquiry and conveyed everything in detail to the king. Kamath was exiled by the king. He became a mendicant and started doing rigorous penance.
After sometime Marubhuti felt that it was because of his report that Kamath was insulted and thrown out of the state; as such he should go and beg forgiveness from his elder brother. Marubhuti went into the jungle near Kamath and bowed before him seeking his pardon. Instead of getting pacified, Kamath was over powered by the desire of vengeance. He picked up a large stone and hit Marubhuti on the head. Marubhuti died on the spot but at the time when he died he fell on miss contemplation as his head was bleeding by the heavy stone. He mentally said, “Oh! What a strong pain? How can I tolerate this pain?” Because of this miss contemplation when he died, his soul reincarnated as an elephant in the Vindhyachal forest!
This small story states that due to miss contemplation even the pious soul of Marubhuti reincarnated as an animal (however in his later life he purified his soul to a great extent and became a Tirthankar). Now think what would happen to a person who always remains absorbed in miss contemplation and involves in sinful activities? The Jain Tirthankars as well as Lord Buddha have used meditation to control their senses because control of mind and senses is the most important part in spiritual progress.

Now here is mentioned another example of Monk Prasanna Chandra who became a monk from The King during Lord Mahavir’s time.
One day King Prasanna was observing clouds and soon all the clouds vanished from the sky. Thus the King realized the nature of life and thought that the life is like clouds that can end anytime. The cycle of birth and death never ends. Thus he decided to renounce the worldly pleasures and decided to become a monk. He transferred his Royal Authority to his son who was still a teenager.
Once, Prasannachandra, now a monk, came to Rajgriha with Lord Mahavir. Standing on one leg, with arms raised, he was engrossed in meditation outside the Samavasaran. A large number of people, including King Shrenik, passed by without disturbing the deep meditation of the monk to see Mahavir.
Seeing the calm, quiet face of Prasannachandra, resplendent in meditational pose, Durmukh, a minister of King Shrenik, was possessed by a fit of mad jealousy and malicious intent to disturb the monk's tranquility. He taunted, "Having left your son, a minor, at the helm of affairs of your kingdom, you have become a carefree monk. Do you know how fearful your young son is in such a situation? Enemies have surrounded him on all sides! The kingdom and his life both are at stake! If you have any worth, show it. It is your duty to save your child from these perils, after which you should think of spiritual attainments."
Outwardly, Prasannachandra was unperturbed, but inwardly, his mind was growing restless. He visualized the frightened face of his young, helpless child and he was mentally there at Pottanpur to protect his son. Mentally, he ordered the army to be prepared for battle, saw his army carry out the order, and even come with arms onto the battlefield, wounded or imprisoned all who threatened to harm the well-being of his son.
This agonizing state of mind full of violence and fear were contradictory to the peaceful outward nature that he was manifesting. New thoughts were perpetually fueling the fire of wrath and vengeance burning within his mind. Upon hearing the appreciative words of a humble layman thanking him for his exemplary lifestyle-- "Leaving all worldly luxuries and practising Sadhana is noble indeed".
The monk began to really think: --Whose son? Whose empire? Of what am I thinking? Why do these earthly cares plague me so? What good can come of wishing harm for others? Such attachment is not wise. I must repudiate such inane feelings as victory and defeat. Such are the thoughts of irrational men. I wish to be beyond such trifles.
His thoughts now directed to their proper sphere, Prasannachandra had pure thoughts and new vision. The mental enemies disappeared; the delusion was over. The veils so long obscuring knowledge and perception were flung aside, thus clearing his path of all obstructions. Prasannachandra had attained omniscience.
When Prasannachandra was doing battle mentally before attaining omniscience, King Shrenik asked Lord Mahavir that if the monk Prasannachandra dies right now then when would his soul go? Mahavir replied,” Oh King! If Prasannachandra would die now then he will be reborn in the seventh hell!” The King was surprised by this answer. He again asked the same question and Mahavir replied that if the monk dies now then he will reborn in the 12th heavenly region! Now King Shrenik was much surprised by these answers and soon he heard sounds of joy. He asked Lord Mahavir about these strange sounds and Mahavir replied that,”Oh King! The monk Prasannachandra has attained Omniscience! Then Mahavir explained to the king that,” when you asked me first time that when would he go if he dies now? Then I replied that he will reborn in the Seventh Hell because at that time he was mentally fighting and killing the army. Then he controlled his mind and was doing confession because his miss contemplation caused by your minister Durmukh and on that time you asked me second time and I replied that he will reborn in the 12th Heaven. Then the monk continued to purify his thoughts and eventually he attained omniscience and you heard the voices of celebrations!
Then Mahavir explained to the King the value of thoughts. Thoughts can lead us to the hell and thoughts can lead us to the heaven, thoughts can lead the soul to liberation!

-Rahul Zota (Bhuj-Gujarat)