Jambu Kumar Charitra

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jambu Kumar Charitra, based on the provided text:

The Jambu Kumar Charitra, authored by Dharmdas Gani and published by Shravak Hiralal Hansraj, is a Jain narrative detailing the spiritual journey of Jambu Kumar. The story begins with Lord Mahavir's presence in Rajagriha, where King Shrenik approaches for his blessings. At this time, a divine being from the first heaven asks Lord Mahavir about his lifespan and future rebirth. Lord Mahavir reveals that the celestial being will die in seven days and be reborn as Jambu Kumar in Rajagriha, destined to become the last Kevali (omniscient being) of this era.

King Shrenik then inquires about Jambu Kumar's past lives. Lord Mahavir recounts Jambu Kumar's previous incarnations:

• Previous Life 1: In Jambudvipa, in the village of Sugriva, there lived a man named Rawada with his wife Revati, who bore two sons, Bhavadeva and Bhavadeva. Bhavadeva took religious vows. While wandering, he returned to his village and encountered his sister-in-law, Nagila, who was recently married. Seeing him, she recognized him as her brother-in-law. Bhavadeva, driven by desire, abandoned his vows. Bhavadeva died and went to heaven. Bhavadeva, after his brother's death, became disillusioned and returned to his house, recalling Nagila. He went to a Jain temple, where Nagila also arrived for worship. She recognized him and understood his desire. She questioned him about his returning to worldly life. Bhavadeva confessed that although he took vows, his love for her remained. Nagila, through analogies (like giving up a wish-fulfilling gem for a crab, or a horse for a donkey), advised him to remain steadfast in his vows. Bhavadeva, strengthened by her counsel, adhered to his path, lived a long life in the third heaven, and will eventually attain moksha.

• Previous Life 2: The soul of Bhavadeva, after descending from heaven, was born as Shivkumar in the city of Vitashoka in Vitasoka, as the son of King Padmaratha and Queen Vanmala. Upon reaching youth, he married five hundred princesses. One day, while looking out of a window, Shivkumar saw a monk and inquired about the hardships of religious life. The monk invited him to meet his Guru, Dharmaghosha. Upon hearing the discourse, Shivkumar gained recollection of his past lives. Despite his parents' reluctance, he took initiation at home, practicing strict austerities. After twelve years, he ascended to heaven as the god Vidyunmali, with a lifespan of four palyopama.

• Previous Life 3 (Jambu Kumar's immediate past life): After descending from heaven, Shivkumar was born as Jambu Kumar in Rajagriha, in the house of the merchant Rishabhdatta and his wife Dharini. His name, Jambu Kumar, was given after he saw a Jambu tree in a dream. Even as a child, he mastered all arts and became exceptionally handsome, attracting many maidens. At this time, eight prominent merchants of the city offered their daughters for marriage to Jambu Kumar. During this period, Lord Sudharma, the Ganadhara of Lord Mahavir, arrived in the city. Knik, along with Rishabhdatta, went to pay respects. Lord Sudharma delivered a discourse on the impermanence of worldly existence, comparing the mind's fickleness to ornaments, reflected moonlight, and a flag in the wind. He explained how beings mistake worldly pleasures for happiness, like a child enjoying licking its finger. This discourse enlightened Jambu Kumar. He approached Lord Sudharma and requested initiation. Lord Sudharma advised him not to delay. On his way home, he encountered princes practicing with weapons. A metal ball fell near him. Jambu Kumar realized that if such obstacles were unavoidable, his desired spiritual path would be challenging. He then took a minor initiation from his Guru. Upon returning home, he informed his parents of his decision to renounce the world, emphasizing the transient nature of life and family ties. He envisioned his spiritual family: father as yoga practice, mother as equanimity, sister as detachment, brother as humility, intelligence as his beloved, knowledge as nectar, and right faith as his unfailing treasure. He declared his intention to conquer internal enemies like attachment and delusion through spiritual discipline.

His parents, however, requested him to marry eight princesses first and then take vows. Jambu Kumar agreed, marrying the eight princesses, but remained detached. Each princess brought vast wealth. Jambu Kumar became the master of ninety-nine crore gold coins.

One night, in a pleasure garden, Jambu Kumar was with his wives, but remained undisturbed by their allure. Suddenly, a notorious thief named Prabhav, accompanied by five hundred robbers, entered his house and stole a hundred crore rupees. Through the power of a mantra (Namaskar mantra), Jambu Kumar immobilized all the thieves, leaving them like painted figures on a wall. Prabhav, recognizing Jambu Kumar's compassion and non-violence, pleaded for release, promising to reform. He offered Jambu Kumar a magic gem. Jambu Kumar, however, stated that his greatest virtue was his adherence to righteousness and his vow to abandon worldly pleasures, which he likened to honey.

To illustrate the deceptive nature of pleasures, Jambu Kumar narrated the Honey Drop Analogy: A traveler lost in a forest is pursued by an elephant. Fleeing, he falls into a well, clinging to a branch of a fig tree. Below him are two gaping cobras, and on the sides, four black snakes. The fig tree's branch is dripping with honey. Two mice (representing day and night) are gnawing at the branch. A bee is disturbing him, and he is about to taste a drop of honey. Jambu Kumar explained that the forest is the world, the traveler is the soul, the well is birth and death, the cobras are hell and animal realms, the snakes are passions, the branch is life, the mice are day and night, the elephant is death, and the honey is worldly pleasures. The bee represents troubles, and the honey drop is the fleeting pleasure derived from sensual objects, which leads to suffering. The Vidyadhar (celestial being) in the story represents the Guru.

Prabhav then argued that a person without a son has no salvation. Jambu Kumar countered this with the story of Maheshwardatta. Maheshwardatta, a merchant, was dying and asked his son to feed the family with the flesh of a buffalo on his death anniversary. After Maheshwardatta's death, he was reborn as a buffalo, and his mother, due to attachment, became a dog in their former house. Coincidentally, the same buffalo was brought home. Maheshwardatta's wife, having an affair, was killed by her lover. The lover was then reborn as Maheshwardatta's son. The buffalo (Maheshwardatta) was killed, and the family consumed its flesh. A monk, Dharmaghosha, recognized the situation. Maheshwardatta, upon hearing the monk's explanation and witnessing proof, abandoned his misdeeds. The dog (his mother) also remembered her past life and attained heaven. Jambu Kumar concluded that a son does not guarantee spiritual progress.

Jambu Kumar's first wife, Samudra Shri, then spoke, questioning the hardship of asceticism for those who are already content. She narrated the story of Bag the Farmer. Bag, a farmer, cultivated grains. He visited his daughter, who served him sweets made from sugarcane. Curious, he uprooted his grain crops and planted sugarcane, ignoring his wife's warnings. The sugarcane failed to yield, and his old grain stores were depleted. He regretted his greed, likening it to the loss of old grain for the hope of sweet food. She cautioned Jambu Kumar against similar regret.

Jambu Kumar then spoke about the Crow Analogy. Crows were feasting on a dead elephant. One crow entered the decaying carcass and remained there. When the elephant's body was washed away by rain, the crow, trapped inside, was unable to escape and died. Jambu Kumar explained that women are like the dead elephant's body, and sensual people are like the crow, drowning in the ocean of worldly existence and ultimately succumbing to suffering due to excessive greed.

The second wife, Padmshri, narrated the Monkey Analogy. A monkey couple lived happily in a forest. One day, they fell into a divine pond and were transformed into humans. The monkey became a man, and the female monkeys became women. The man believed that falling into the pond again would lead to divinity. Despite his wife's pleas, he fell, reverting to his monkey form. The women were taken by a king. The monkey was caught by a dancer, trained, and made to perform. He was heartbroken upon seeing his former wife. Jambu Kumar stated that excessive desire leads to suffering like this monkey.

Jambu Kumar then told the story of Kavadi. A thirsty traveler in a forest drank water from various vessels, but his thirst remained. He slept under a tree and dreamt of drinking from the ocean, yet he was not satisfied. He drank muddy water, which did not quench his thirst either. Jambu Kumar compared divine pleasures to ocean water and human pleasures to muddy water, implying neither fully satisfies.

The third wife, Pramsen, warned against hasty actions, citing the example of Nupurpandita. Jambu Kumar then related the story of Vidyunmali. Vidyunmali and Meghrath, friends, were granted a magical power by a Vidyadhara, but with the condition of resisting the temptation of a Matangi (a sorceress). Vidyunmali succumbed to the Matangi's allure, lost his powers, and suffered. Meghrath, however, remained steadfast, gained his powers, and prospered. Jambu Kumar equated human women to the Matangi, advising avoidance for those seeking lasting happiness.

The fourth wife, Kanak Sena, questioned why they were considered like the Matangi. She warned Jambu Kumar against greed, citing the Shepherd and the Trumpet Analogy. A shepherd, to ward off birds from his crops, would blow a trumpet at night. Thieves, hearing the trumpet, mistook it for a signal and fled, leaving stolen cattle. This happened thrice. One day, the thieves, realizing the shepherd's intention, captured and punished him. Jambu Kumar concluded that excessive greed leads to suffering.

Jambu Kumar then told the Monkey Analogy again, this time emphasizing how a monkey, falling into mud, initially felt coolness but then suffered as the mud dried and cracked in the sun. He warned against getting entangled in the "mud" of worldly pleasures.

The fourth wife, Nabhasena, spoke about the dangers of unchecked greed, citing the Siddhi-Buddhi Analogy. Jambu Kumar then spoke of the Thoroughbred Horse Analogy. A king's horse, known for its purity of conduct, refused to stray from the royal road. When stolen, it remained on the highway, leading to the capture of the thief. Jambu Kumar identified himself with this horse, resisting the allure of his wives.

The fifth wife, Kanak Shri, advised against stubbornness, mentioning Vipraputra. She asked about this Vipraputra. Jambu Kumar explained that a foolish son was told by his mother never to let go of what he holds. When a donkey escaped from a potter, the potter asked the son to take the donkey. The son grabbed its tail. Despite the donkey kicking him, he refused to let go, citing his mother's teaching. Jambu Kumar called his wives donkeys for their tenacious grip. He also recounted the Vipra Analogy: A warrior's horse, looked after by a servant, weakened because the servant secretly ate its feed. The horse later became a prostitute. The servant was reborn as a Brahmin and became a slave to the prostitute, doing household chores. Jambu Kumar declared he would not become a slave to lust.

The sixth wife, Rupashri, warned that they would soon suffer like the Masahas bird. This bird would fly into a sleeping tiger's mouth to steal meat from its teeth, ignoring warnings and ultimately being devoured. Jambu Kumar stated that only Dharma (righteousness) offers true refuge, like a minister's true friend. He recounted the Three Friends Analogy: King Jitshtru had three friends: a constant friend (the body), a friend like a mountain (relatives), and a friend like a jewel (Dharma).

The seventh wife, Jayantashri, asked if their stories were mere fabrications, like a Brahmin's tale to please a king. She then narrated the Brahmin's Daughter Analogy: King Nayasar, in Lakshmipur, loved new stories. He announced a reward for any new tale. A Brahmin's foolish daughter couldn't think of a story. Her clever daughter advised her not to worry, as she would tell a new story. To the king, the daughter recounted her own experience: her new husband came to her house before the wedding ceremony. Her parents were out. She pleased her husband, who became overcome with passion. She told him that without proper union, such indulgence was inappropriate. Her husband, overcome with desire, suffered a stomach ache and died. She hid his body. The king was delighted by this fabricated story. Jayantashri concluded that true conduct brings honor, and one should seek initiation after experiencing worldly life.

Jambu Kumar then asserted that worldly pleasures are like poison, even more dangerous than actual poison, and that they destroy even the dead. He spoke of the ascetic life, where one has simple food, a bare bed, worn clothes, and a daughter with a torn garment, yet still clings to desires. He questioned how one could escape the enemies of birth, old age, death, and grief. He refused to be trapped by their allure, emphasizing the impure nature of their bodies and the burden of past karma. He quoted scriptures stating that women are the cause of infinite karmic bondage and are like direct demons. He refused to be like Lalitanga, who succumbed to Moha (infatuation).

He then told the story of Lalitanga: King Shataprabhu's queen, Rupavati, was beautiful but unfaithful. She saw a handsome youth, Lalitanga, and sent her maid to call him. Lalitanga, driven by lust, went to the queen. She seduced him with provocative gestures. They indulged in illicit pleasures. The king returned and was informed by the maid. The queen, in fear, hid Lalitanga in an impure pit. The king enjoyed her company, unaware of Lalitanga's plight. Lalitanga suffered immensely in the pit. The queen forgot him, highlighting the fickle nature of women's love. Lalitanga, eventually washed out by rain, was found by his relatives. He renounced his sensual desires and recovered. Jambu Kumar stated that he would not suffer like Lalitanga if he succumbed to their temptations.

The women finally acknowledged the difficulty of their vows and Jambu Kumar's unparalleled detachment, recognizing that those who worshiped him attained liberation. Prabhav, the former thief, expressed his gratitude for hearing such wisdom, praising Jambu Kumar for conquering his senses in youth. Jambu Kumar offered further spiritual teachings to Prabhav.

The next morning, King Knik heard of this. Despite his protective measures, Jambu Kumar remained resolute. Celebrated with a grand festival, Jambu Kumar, accompanied by Prabhav and five hundred others, his parents, in-laws, and wives, took initiation from Lord Sudharma. He diligently studied the twelve Angas and fourteen Purvas, becoming a possessor of four types of knowledge, and a jewel of Lord Sudharma. Upon the destruction of his karmic bonds, he attained omniscience and liberation. The text concludes by extolling Jambu Kumar as a noble soul who conquered desire in his youth and attained eternal bliss by renouncing transient worldly pleasures. It emphasizes that even those like Prabhav can attain salvation with clear understanding and guidance.