Bharat And Bahubali

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Bharat and Bahubali" by the JAINA Education Committee:

The text recounts the story of Bharat and Bahubali, the sons of Lord Rishabhadev (Adinath), the first Tirthankar in this era. Lord Rishabhadev had two wives, Sumangala and Sunanda. From Sumangala, he had 99 sons, with Bharat being the eldest and most renowned, and one daughter, Brahmi. From Sunanda, he had one son, Bahubali, and a daughter, Sundari. All children received comprehensive training. Brahmi became proficient in literature and developed the Brahmi script, while Sundari excelled in mathematics. Both daughters renounced worldly life and became disciples of Lord Rishabhadev after he attained omniscience.

Upon his renunciation, Lord Rishabhadev divided his kingdom. Bharat was given the capital city of Vinitä (Ayodhyä), and Bahubali was given Taxshilä (Potanpur). The remaining 98 sons received other territories.

Bharat, an ambitious ruler, aimed to become the emperor of the entire nation. He built a strong army, developed advanced weaponry, and possessed a miraculous weapon called the Chakraratna. He conquered surrounding regions and demanded his 98 brothers acknowledge his supremacy. They sought advice from Lord Rishabhadev, who guided them to conquer inner enemies (passions) rather than external ones, and to pursue liberation, the "True Kingdom." Realizing the futility of conflict, they surrendered their territories and became monks.

Bahubali, however, refused to acknowledge Bharat's superiority, believing in his right to rule the kingdom entrusted to him. He prepared for war, as did Bharat. Recognizing the potential for immense bloodshed, counselors proposed a duel between the brothers to settle the dispute. Both agreed.

During the duel, Bharat's attempts to defeat Bahubali failed. In desperation, Bharat violated the rules by using the Chakraratna, forgetting that it wouldn't harm blood relatives. The weapon returned, leaving Bahubali unharmed. Enraged by the rule violation, Bahubali prepared to strike Bharat. However, just as he was about to unleash his fury, he had a moment of profound insight. He questioned his actions, realizing he was about to kill his respected elder brother for temporary worldly possessions that their father himself had renounced. He chose not to strike but instead pulled out his hair, symbolizing renunciation of worldly life.

Despite this renunciation, Bahubali's pride and ego remained. He feared being subservient to his younger brothers in monkhood. He decided to seek enlightenment independently and began meditating on the spot. He remained in this posture for a year, becoming so engrossed that creepers grew around his feet. He did not achieve enlightenment due to his lingering ego. Lord Rishabhadev then sent Brahmi and Sundari to guide him. They told him he couldn't achieve enlightenment while sitting "on an elephant," referring metaphorically to his ego. Upon hearing their familiar voices, Bahubali realized the "elephant" was his ego. He dissolved it, ready to accept his position and bow to his brothers. As he took his first step towards Lord Rishabhadev after shedding his ego, he attained omniscience. The Digambar tradition considers him the first person to achieve liberation in this era, while the Shvetambar tradition attributes this to Rishabhadev's mother, Marudevi.

A massive 57-foot statue of Bahubali, carved from a single granite rock, stands at Shravanbelgola in southern India, commemorating this event.

Meanwhile, Bharat became the first Chakravarti (emperor) of the current time cycle, ruling equitably and bringing happiness to his subjects. India was recognized as Bharatvarsha in his honor. After a long reign, Bharat experienced a realization. While dressing, he noticed the oddness of his finger without a ring. This led him to question his attachment to his body and worldly possessions, realizing they were temporary and ultimately belonged to neither him nor his body. He decided to detach himself from temporary things and focus on what lasts forever, like his father. The Shvetambar tradition states this reflection led to his enlightenment and omniscience as a layperson. The Digambar tradition says he renounced worldly life, became a monk, and then attained omniscience and liberation.

The story's central theme emphasizes the detrimental impact of ego and pride, which lead to negative karma and destructive behavior, including anger and irrationality. It highlights the necessity of overcoming ego and superficial pride to achieve enlightenment and omniscience, advocating for the cultivation of humility, a core Jain principle.