Meghkumara

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Meghkumara" by the JAINA Education Committee, based on the provided pages:

Meghkumara: A Story of Past Lives and Spiritual Renunciation

The story of Meghkumara, as narrated in this Jain text, is a tale highlighting the principles of karma, renunciation, and spiritual progress within the teachings of Lord Mahavir.

Birth and Early Life:

The narrative begins in the time of Lord Mahavir, during the reign of King Shrenik in Magadha, India. Queen Dharini had a auspicious dream of a white elephant entering her mouth, which was interpreted by dream interpreters to signify the birth of a wise and beautiful son. Later in her pregnancy, Queen Dharini developed an intense desire to ride an elephant amidst a simulated monsoon environment with rain and lightning. As it was not the monsoon season, this wish was difficult to fulfill. However, her stepson, Abhaykumar, who held the position of Prime Minister, managed to fulfill her desire through the assistance of a miraculous friend who created the desired atmosphere.

Upon the auspicious birth of the son, he was named Meghkumara, meaning "cloud prince," due to his mother's desire to experience rain during her pregnancy. Meghkumara grew up to be skilled in 72 arts and crafts, married, and enjoyed worldly pleasures.

Spiritual Awakening and Renunciation:

One day, Meghkumara attended a discourse by Lord Mahavir in Rajagriha. He was deeply moved by the teachings and decided to renounce worldly pleasures and become a monk. His parents were saddened but he agreed to become king for a single day to pacify them, after which he underwent the coronation ceremony and immediately left to join Lord Mahavir as a disciple.

Challenges in Monastic Life:

As a newly initiated monk, Meghkumara was assigned to sleep near the entrance of the monastic dwelling (upasraya). During the night, other monks, needing to relieve themselves, would step over him. In the absence of a lamp, their feet would sometimes touch him. Accustomed to a life of luxury, Meghkumara found this experience extremely difficult and uncomfortable, leading to sleeplessness and a feeling of being covered in dust. He began to contemplate leaving the monastic life.

The Lesson of Past Lives:

The next morning, Meghkumara went to Lord Mahavir to seek permission to return home. Lord Mahavir, aware of his difficulties, reminded Meghkumara of his past life. In a previous birth, Meghkumara was born as Meruprabhu, the king of elephants. During a severe forest fire, he had cleared a large area of trees and grass to provide shelter for all animals. When the fire raged again, animals sought refuge in this cleared space. At that moment, Meruprabhu, experiencing an itch on his leg, lifted it. A rabbit, seeking shelter, ran to the spot beneath his lifted leg. To protect the rabbit, Meruprabhu kept his leg raised for two and a half days until the fire subsided. After the fire, his leg was stiff and he fell, enduring unbearable pain for three days and nights, ultimately dying from the agony.

Lord Mahavir explained that it was due to this act of compassion for the rabbit that Meghkumara was reborn as the son of King Shrenik. He questioned why, after enduring such hardship and receiving a precious human life in return for saving a small creature, Meghkumara could not tolerate minor inconveniences like the touch of a monk's foot or a bit of dust. He emphasized that renouncing worldly pleasures is the first step towards liberation, and that happiness and suffering are the results of one's karma. True, eternal happiness lies in liberation.

Rededication and Ultimate Liberation:

Meghkumara was deeply affected by Lord Mahavir's words and realized his mistake. He requested to be accepted back, acknowledging his breach of vows due to his intense desire to return to the world. Lord Mahavir accepted him, and he became known as Meghmuni. He then led a life of extreme austerity and self-discipline, often meditating for days, leading to prolonged fasting.

When he became too weak to continue intense penance, he decided to undertake Sallekhana (vow of death by fasting). He sat down to fast unto death on the Vaibharagiri mountain near Rajagriha. After his death, he was reborn in heaven. Lord Mahavir informed his chief disciple, Gautam Swami, that after exhausting his heavenly lifespan, Meghkumara would be reborn as a human and eventually achieve liberation.

Moral of the Story:

The text concludes by highlighting that this story is an excellent example of compassion, teaching that even animals endure hardship and suffering to help others. As humans, with greater intellect and development, we should learn from animals to help each other. The text also advises against dissuading those who have taken vows of monastic life from their spiritual path. True understanding and well-being are achieved by relinquishing worldly pleasures, as they distort reality. Difficulties are inevitable due to past karma, and they should be endured with equanimity, focusing on the realization of the soul.