Kevali Jambu Swami

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Kevali Jambu Swami":

The book, published by the JAINA Education Committee, recounts the life story of Jambu Swami, a prominent figure in Jainism and the last omniscient (Kevali) of the current time cycle.

The narrative begins in Rajgrihi with Jambu, the handsome and intelligent son of a wealthy merchant named Rushabhadatt and his wife Dharini. Born in 542 BC, Jambu was well-liked and, as was customary, engaged to eight daughters from reputable families.

One day, Jambu attended a sermon by Ganadhar Sudharma Swami. The sermon deeply impacted him, instilling a profound sense of detachment from worldly possessions and relationships. He decided to renounce his worldly life, much to the dismay of his parents and the families of his eight fiancées. They pleaded with him, highlighting the rigors of ascetic life and his obligations, but Jambu remained firm.

As a last resort, his parents requested him to marry before renouncing. Jambu agreed, with the condition that he would become an ascetic the day after the wedding. His parents hoped marriage would change his mind. The wedding was a grand, opulent affair, showcasing immense wealth and splendor, with distinguished guests in attendance. Jambu, however, remained unaffected by the glamour and his wives' beauty. He spent the wedding night orienting his wives towards spiritual pursuits, explaining the transient nature of life and the suffering inherent in worldly attachments.

During this conversation, a notorious burglar named Prabhav, formerly a prince, along with his 500 followers, entered Jambu's palace to steal the wedding treasures. Prabhav possessed skills to induce deep sleep and bypass locks. His powers, however, inexplicably failed to affect Jambu and his wives. While listening to Jambu's discourse on renunciation, Prabhav was struck by the irony of the situation – the owner of immense wealth was planning to give it all up. The powerful words of Jambu resonated with Prabhav, leading him to question his own life of crime.

When Prabhav's men urged him to finish stealing from Jambu's bedroom, he declared his intention to give up burglary and offered his followers freedom to leave. To his surprise, they pledged to follow him, even in renouncing their illicit profession.

After Jambu concluded his spiritual discussion, all eight of his wives were ready to renounce the world. At this point, Prabhav and his followers entered, confessing their initial intent to steal but their subsequent decision to renounce after hearing Jambu's words. They requested to become Jambu's disciples.

The next morning, Rajgrihi awoke to the news that Jambu, his wives, Prabhav, and his followers were all set to renounce their worldly lives. Jambu's parents, though initially saddened, understood the profundity of his message and decided to join him. The parents of the eight brides also renounced their worldly ties.

A grand procession accompanied Jambu as he met Sudharma Swami. Jambu became Sudharma Swami's disciple, and in turn, Prabhav and his companions became Jambu's disciples. Henceforth known as Jambuswami, he diligently studied the teachings of Lord Mahavir. Most of the original Jain scriptures (12 Anga Agamas) are structured as dialogues between Sudharma Swami and Jambuswami.

Upon Sudharma Swami attaining omniscience, Jambuswami assumed leadership of the Jain order. He headed the order for 44 years before attaining omniscience himself. Jambuswami is recognized as the final omniscient (Kevali) of the present era. He achieved Nirvana at the age of 80.

The book emphasizes that Jambuswami's unwavering commitment to renunciation, inspired by Sudharma Swami's sermon, ultimately led hundreds of others to follow his path toward spiritual liberation through asceticism. His life serves as a testament to the understanding that material happiness and physical beauty are superficial and temporary, and the true path lies in purifying the soul and assisting others in their spiritual journey.