Kurgadu Sadhu

This Jain text, titled "Kurgadu Sadhu" and authored by the JAINA Education Committee, narrates the story of a Jain monk named Kurgadu. The story, set before the time of Bhagwan Mahavir, highlights profound spiritual lessons about karma, self-realization, and true understanding of dharma.

The narrative begins with Dhanadatta, a pious merchant whose son was equally religious. One day, the son was deeply inspired by the teachings of Acharya Dharmaghosh Suri and decided to renounce worldly life, becoming a monk. The Acharya recognized the young monk's immense potential and named him Kalaguru. In the local dialect, he came to be known as Kurgadu, meaning "one who eats a pot full of rice."

Kurgadu diligently studied sacred Jain texts and internalized their essence. He understood the significant role of karma in human life and strived to live a higher existence. While possessing all the virtues of a monk, Kurgadu was plagued by a persistent difficulty: he couldn't fast. He was compelled to eat at least once a day and even struggled to observe a single fast during the important Paryushana festival. He would admonish himself for this perceived weakness, believing it to be the result of past karmas. Meanwhile, he would diligently serve other monks who undertook fasts, hoping that one day he too would be able to do the same.

During the monsoon season, when Jain monks remain in one place and the Paryushana festival occurs, Kurgadu was with Acharya Dharmaghosh Suri and other disciples in a city. Many of these disciples were undertaking long fasts, some even month-long. Kurgadu felt deep sorrow that he couldn't fast even once. On the day of Samvatsari, he resolved to fast. He tried, but by noon, intense hunger overwhelmed him, and he felt he could no longer endure. He regretted his "thick and sticky karmas" that prevented him from fasting. Hesitantly, he sought permission from his Guru to beg for alms. The Guru advised him, but Kurgadu explained his desire to fast and his suffering due to his inability. The Guru, moved by his plight, granted him permission.

Kurgadu returned with whatever he received and respectfully presented it to his Guru, seeking permission to consume it. The Guru granted permission, but other monks began to criticize him for eating on Samvatsari, believing he was accumulating heavy karma. They looked at him with disdain, deeming him unworthy of being a monk. Kurgadu silently endured their criticism and sat in a corner to eat. Some ascetics even spat into his begging bowl out of contempt, yet Kurgadu maintained equanimity and praised their penance.

Kurgadu continued to be distressed by his inability to fast and attributed it to the ripening of karmas from past lives. However, aware of his own spiritual qualities, he believed these karmas would eventually exhaust themselves. He made a firm resolve to shed his karmas in this very life. Overcoming the suffering of physical and mental weakness, he became absorbed in self-reflection, and gradually, his karmas began to diminish. Even while eating, his karmas were shed, and he attained Kevaljnana (omniscience).

When Kevaljnana is attained, celestial beings from heaven descend to pay homage. The other monks witnessed the arrival of these celestial beings and assumed they were there to honor their severe penances. To their astonishment, the celestial beings approached Kurgadu and bowed to him. The entire monastic community was bewildered. They performed rigorous penances, yet received no divine recognition, while Kurgadu, who seemingly did nothing, was honored and attained complete knowledge. Troubled, they approached Acharya Dharmaghosh Suri to understand what had happened.

The Acharya explained that they were proud of their severe penances and looked down upon Kurgadu for his inability to fast. Kurgadu, however, understood this as a consequence of past karmas. Due to his virtue of forgiveness, he endured everything. He used his knowledge to shed the karmas that were manifesting in his present life and to awaken his soul. The Acharya revealed that they had misjudged Kurgadu. His equanimity helped him destroy past karmas without accumulating new ones. He had understood the essence of dharma. Past accumulated karmas had hindered his penances, which caused him sorrow. He had shed the manifesting karmas through sincere remorse. Despite his regret for those karmas, he remained equanimous towards their effects. By embracing the manifesting karmas with equanimity, he attained Samyak Darshan (right perception) and ultimately, Kevaljnana, by not binding new karmas and exhausting the old ones.

All the monks then understood that their own unnecessary pride was a hindrance to attaining true knowledge. The Acharya further explained that the soul has no relation to the body's condition or activities; the body is merely a vessel for experiencing bound karmas. It should be used solely as a tool to understand the true nature of karma. When used appropriately, it is an effective instrument. Understanding the true nature of the soul is the essence of dharma and the only worthy pursuit in this life. The Acharya advised that one should not feel aversion towards those who cannot perform certain austeries or adhere to certain principles of dharma. Instead of belittling them, one should offer them encouragement and sympathy for their penance, so they can understand their limitations due to their karmas. Those who perform penances should never feel proud of their austerities.