Muni Harikesh Acharya Sthulibhadra - Book Summary

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Book Title: Muni Harikesh Acharya Sthulibhadra Author: Jaybhikkhu Publisher: Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust

This book, part of the "Jain Balgranthavali Shreni-1" series, aims to inspire young readers through the lives of important figures in Jainism. It presents the stories of Muni Harikesh and Acharya Sthulibhadra, highlighting their spiritual journeys, trials, and achievements.

Muni Harikesh

The story of Muni Harikesh begins with his birth into a "Chandala" (outcast) family. He was a strong and mischievous boy, known for his rough behavior, fighting, and foul language, earning him the name "Baliyo" (the strong one). He was ostracized and disliked by everyone due to his actions.

During the spring festival, while the townspeople celebrated joyfully, the outcast community gathered away from the town. Baliyo, fueled by alcohol, danced wildly and misbehaved with women, angering his father who had him beaten. Cast out by his father, Baliyo sat on a dung heap.

Witnessing two incidents involving snakes – one venomous snake killed and a non-venomous one spared – Baliyo had a profound realization. He understood that causing harm (like the venomous snake) leads to punishment and rejection, while being harmless (like the non-venomous snake) leads to acceptance. He decided that to live a good life, he needed to become harmless.

Seeking peace and an escape from societal rejection, Baliyo went to the forest. There, he encountered a meditating Muni (monk). Attracted by the monk's serenity, Baliyo approached him. The monk, upon awakening, offered blessings and a brief sermon.

Baliyo expressed his despair, feeling his outcast status prevented him from practicing Dharma (righteousness), as he was barred from religious scriptures and temples. The monk explained that Dharma is accessible to all, regardless of birth. He emphasized that one's actions and character determine their true worth, not their caste. Quoting scriptures, the monk stated that one becomes a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra through their deeds. True sainthood, Brahmanhood, and asceticism come from inner qualities like equanimity, celibacy, and penance, not outward appearances or rituals.

This sermon had a transformative effect on Baliyo. He shed his feelings of inferiority and realized his equal right to spiritual progress. He requested the monk to make him a follower of Lord Mahavir. The monk initiated him into monastic life.

As Muni Harikesh, he dedicated himself to intense penance and the pursuit of knowledge, quickly becoming a great scholar and ascetic. He was no longer restricted from entering temples or towns.

Later, while meditating in a garden, Muni Harikesh attracted the devotion of a Yaksha (a semi-divine being). The king's daughter, Bhadra, visited the temple with her friends. In a game, she playfully embraced Muni Harikesh, mistaking him for a pillar. Seeing his disfigured appearance, she recoiled in disgust.

The angered Yaksha struck Bhadra, disfiguring her. When the king arrived, he was told that only if his daughter married the Muni would she be restored. The king agreed, and Bhadra was healed. She tried to entice Muni Harikesh that night, but he remained steadfast in his meditation.

In the morning, Bhadra requested him to accept her. Muni Harikesh refused, having renounced worldly relationships. Bhadra reported this to her father. The royal priest suggested that since the Muni had rejected her, she could only be given to a Brahmin. The king agreed, and the priest married Bhadra.

Muni Harikesh continued his spiritual path. He later came across a grand yajna (fire sacrifice) being performed by Rudradev, the royal priest, with Bhadra as his wife. The Brahmins present ridiculed Muni Harikesh for his worn clothes and appearance. When he asked for leftover food, they refused, stating the food was only for Brahmins.

Muni Harikesh challenged their claims of purity, pointing out their involvement in violence, falsehood, and attachment to wealth, contrasting it with the true characteristics of a virtuous person (non-violence, truth, celibacy, and renunciation). His disciples, agitated by the Brahmins' disrespect, became confrontational.

Bhadra intervened, recognizing Muni Harikesh as a true ascetic and warning the Brahmins of his power. This made them remorseful, and they apologized. The king and Bhadra invited Muni Harikesh to partake in the offerings. He accepted suitable food and then explained that true yajna involves sacrificing desires and passions through penance, non-violence, detachment, and knowledge. This teaching led some to take initiation, while others adopted vows.

Through his pure conduct and true teachings, Muni Harikesh benefited many, dispelled false beliefs, and, despite his humble origins, gained widespread respect. He ultimately attained liberation (Nirvana). His life exemplifies that every being has an equal right to self-realization.

Acharya Sthulibhadra

The text then shifts to Acharya Sthulibhadra, a prominent figure during the reign of King Nanda, who was known for his immense wealth and power. Sthulibhadra was the elder son of Mahamantri Shakatala, a loyal and respected minister. Sthulibhadra was handsome, accomplished, and skilled in arts like poetry, dance, music, and singing. However, he lacked practical knowledge of worldly affairs.

He was sent to receive education from Kosha, a renowned and learned courtesan in Pataliputra. Their association deepened, and Sthulibhadra became deeply devoted to Kosha, neglecting his responsibilities. This continued for twelve years, a period of indulgence and pleasure.

During this time, Mahamantri Shakatala fell out of favor with the king. To protect his family and lineage, he instructed his younger son, Shriyak, to behead him in the royal court, a sacrifice that appeased the king's wrath and cleared the family's name.

King Nanda, regretting the loss of his minister, offered Shriyak the position of Mahamantri. Shriyak, in turn, suggested his elder brother, Sthulibhadra, for the role. Sthulibhadra was summoned from Kosha's residence.

Upon learning of his father's death and his own past negligence, Sthulibhadra was filled with remorse. He realized his life had been wasted and feared further entanglement in worldly politics. He decided to renounce the world and embrace the life of a Jain monk. He appeared before the king in monastic attire, offered blessings, and departed for the forest.

He became a humble disciple of Acharya Sambhutivijayasuri. Sthulibhadra, having shed pride and attachment, dedicated himself to serving others, his guru, and the Dharma.

During a Chaturmas (a four-month period of spiritual retreat), Sthulibhadra's disciples proposed challenging spiritual feats: one wished to meditate near a lion's den, another near a snake pit, and a third near a well frequented by women. Sthulibhadra, in a test of his own resolve, proposed staying at Kosha's place to conquer desire in its very domain. The guru granted permission to all.

Kosha welcomed Sthulibhadra with lavish hospitality. However, Sthulibhadra remained detached, comparing himself to a lotus in water. He advised Kosha to find peace and understand the transient nature of the world. His teachings led Kosha to take twelve vows and become a devoted lay follower.

The text then recounts a poetic description of this encounter, highlighting Sthulibhadra's detachment and Kosha's realization.

The second Chaturmas saw one of Sthulibhadra's fellow monks, who had stayed near the lion's den, express a desire to stay at Kosha's. The guru granted permission. This monk, unlike Sthulibhadra, fell prey to temptation. Kosha, demanding wealth for her acceptance, sent him to Nepal for a gem-studded blanket. Upon his return, she disrespectfully discarded the blanket. The monk, realizing his folly, returned to the guru for penance. The guru revealed he had permitted this to temper the monk's pride, knowing Sthulibhadra's victory over desire.

Later, during a severe famine, many Jain monks dispersed. Upon their return, much of the scriptural knowledge had been lost. Acharya Sthulibhadra, along with 500 monks, undertook the arduous journey to Nepal to learn the twelve Angas (scriptural sections) from Acharya Bhadrabahuswami, who possessed this lost knowledge. Only Sthulibhadra and 499 others completed the journey and study.

During his studies, Sthulibhadra's sisters visited him in a dilapidated temple. They found a lion in his place, which the Swami revealed was Sthulibhadra in disguise. He admitted he was testing his own knowledge. Acharya Bhadrabahuswami then refused to teach him further, stating pride is unbecoming of the knowledgeable. Sthulibhadra apologized, and the Acharya eventually taught him the remaining parts of the scriptures.

After further years of service, Acharya Sthulibhadra attained liberation at Vaibhavgiri. The text concludes by honoring him as a victor over desire.

Overall Message:

The book "Muni Harikesh Acharya Sthulibhadra" serves as an inspiring narrative for young Jain readers, illustrating that:

Spiritual attainment is not limited by birth or social status. Muni Harikesh's transformation from an outcast to a revered monk highlights this.
True Dharma is about inner conduct and ethical actions. Both stories emphasize the importance of detachment, control of senses, and following principles like non-violence and truth.
Overcoming desires and worldly attachments is crucial for spiritual progress. The contrasting experiences of Muni Harikesh and Sthulibhadra's fellow monk with Kosha, and Sthulibhadra's own journey, underscore this.
Learning and preserving religious knowledge is a significant endeavor. The efforts of Sthulibhadra and the monks to recover lost scriptures are a testament to this.
The lives of great souls offer valuable lessons on righteousness, resilience, and the pursuit of liberation.