Muni Ki Raksha - Book Summary | JainGPT

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Muni Ki Raksha" in English:

Book Title: Muni Ki Raksha (Protection of the Muni) Author: Moolchand Jain Publisher: Acharya Dharmshrut Granthmala

Overview:

"Muni Ki Raksha" is a Jain illustrated story that aims to impart moral and spiritual lessons through a narrative rooted in Jain philosophy. The story emphasizes the importance of righteousness, the negative consequences of greed and malice, and the power of compassion and spiritual discipline. It also highlights the significance of the Raksha Bandhan festival and its origins within a Jain context.

Key Themes and Narrative Breakdown:

The book is structured into two main parts:

Part 1: The Story of Muni Akampana and the Four Ministers

Setting the Scene: The story begins with Mahamuni Vishnukumar meditating on the Dharanibhushan mountain range. In the prosperous city of Ujjain, King Shribharma, a follower of Jainism, rules with a spirit of universal friendship and benevolence.
The Corrupt Ministers: King Shribharma is advised by four clever but cunning ministers: Balichandra, Vrihaspatikumar, Prahladchandra, and Namuchikumar. These ministers are driven by self-interest and are considered "mithyatvi" (believers in false doctrines) by those who know them.
The Arrival of the Munis: Venerable Digambar Muni Akampana and his seven hundred disciples arrive near Ujjain. Aware of the king and his ministers' nature, Muni Akampana instructs his disciples to remain silent if the ministers approach, to avoid unnecessary conflict and uphold their spiritual practice.
The King and Ministers' Visit: King Shribharma and the Queen visit the munis, showing great reverence. The munis bless them with silence, as per their guru's instruction.
Ministerial Malice: On their return to the palace, the ministers express their envy and contempt towards the munis, suggesting their silence is due to fear of their own ignorance and a desire to hide their lack of knowledge.
The Encounter with Shrutasagar: As the king contemplates the ministers' words, Muni Shrutasagar, who had gone out for his alms round with permission to speak, encounters them. The ministers question him, and Muni Shrutasagar answers them with ease, leaving the ministers feeling defeated after his initial response.
The Ministers' Plot: Later, Muni Shrutasagar informs Muni Akampana of his feeling that the ministers might come to harm him that night. Muni Akampana instructs Shrutasagar to return to the place of their earlier conversation, predicting either a change of heart in the ministers or that they will face consequences for their actions.
The Attack and Divine Intervention: The four ministers, armed with swords and fueled by revenge, go to the location where Muni Shrutasagar is waiting. As they attempt to attack him, the city deity intervenes and paralyzes them, leaving them frozen in place.
The King's Intervention and Punishment: Upon hearing about the incident, King Shribharma arrives at the scene. He apologizes to the muni and takes the ministers to his court. He has them tonsured and banished from the kingdom.
The Ministers' Flight to Hastinapur: The disgraced ministers wander for months until they reach Hastinapur, seeking refuge with King Padam. King Padam, whose father and younger brother (Vishnukumar) had become Digambar munis, felt isolated. Impressed by the ministers' cunning, he appointed them to various positions in his court.
Further Scheming: The ministers, eager for revenge, immediately plotted against King Padam. They captured his enemy, King Singhbal of Kumbhak city, and brought him to Hastinapur. King Padam, in his magnanimity, forgave Singhbal and released him.
The Ministers' Demand for Reward: The ministers then boldly approached King Padam to claim a promised reward. They asked for his royal authority and position for seven days, requesting him to reside peacefully in the royal chambers. King Padam, true to his word, agreed.
The Humiliation of the Munis: The ministers built a sacrificial altar and infiltrated the muni's grove, throwing foul-smelling smoke, rotten objects, and pieces of meat at them. Muni Akampana and his disciples understood this was a form of "upasarga" (affliction) and, as per tradition, began fasting and meditating to overcome it.
The Announcement of the Sacrifice: The ministers announced that on the next full moon, anyone who came to the sacrificial altar would receive a wish, while the munis in the grove would be thrown into the sacrificial fire.
Seeking Help from Vishnukumar: The news reached Muni Vishnu Suri, who, through his divine knowledge, understood the grave danger faced by Muni Akampana and his disciples. He realized that a scholar named Kshullak Prajishnu of Mithila, who possessed astrological knowledge, had detected a grave crisis for the Digambar munis. Prajishnu was informed about the "upasarga" and urged to inform Mahamuni Vishnukumar on the Dharanibhushan mountain.
Vishnukumar's Intervention: Kshullak Prajishnu informed Vidyadhar Pushpadant, who, using his powers, quickly reached Mahamuni Vishnukumar and conveyed the message. Initially unaware, Vishnukumar confirmed the gravity of the situation by extending his hand, which reached the Manushottara mountain.
The Deception of Balichandra: Mahamuni Vishnukumar, understanding Balichandra's plan, disguised himself as a short mendicant and approached Balichandra at dawn. Balichandra, confident in his power, offered the mendicant anything he wished.
The Three Paces: The disguised Vishnukumar asked for a donation of three paces of land. Balichandra, mocking his small request, agreed.
Vishnukumar's Cosmic Stride: Vishnukumar then began his "three paces." His first step covered Mount Meru, and his second step reached the Manushottara mountain, encompassing the entire human world. With no space left on Earth for his third step, he taunted Balichandra.
The Defeat of Balichandra: In desperation, Vishnukumar placed his third step on Balichandra's head, causing him to fall. This event instilled fear in gods, humans, and demons, and cries of "Forgive us, Lord!" echoed from all directions.
The Ministers' Transformation: The ministers, witnessing this event, gained spiritual insight. They repented and took initiation into Jainism, eventually achieving liberation.
Vishnukumar's Liberation: Mahamuni Vishnukumar performed the prescribed penance according to the scriptures and, in time, attained Kevala Gyana (omniscience) and attained liberation (Moksha).
The Origin of Raksha Bandhan: The story concludes by stating that the full moon of Shravan month, the day when the seven hundred munis were protected and their tormentors were converted to Jainism, is celebrated as Raksha Bandhan.

Part 2: The Story of Ahidev and Mahidev - The Value of Wealth

The Value of Wealth: This section begins with a reflection on humanity's relentless pursuit of wealth and how it can lead to greed, wickedness, and the loss of humanity. It questions the true worth of wealth when it corrupts individuals.
The Family: The story introduces two brothers, Ahidev (the elder) and Mahidev (the younger), their sister, and their mother. They live in extreme poverty, struggling to even get two meals a day, but are bound by immense love for each other.
The Opportunity Abroad: The brothers decide to go abroad with a merchant to earn wealth, receiving their mother's blessings. They depart with heavy hearts, bidding farewell to their mother and homeland.
Earning Wealth: After working diligently, the brothers earn considerable wealth and decide to return home, missing their mother deeply. They decide to buy a precious gem for easier transport of their earnings.
Greed Takes Hold: The gem is in Ahidev's possession. That night, thoughts of greed consume him. He realizes that the gem is jointly owned and contemplates how to keep it all for himself, even considering harming his brother.
Ahide's Remorse: The next morning, filled with guilt and remorse for his thoughts, Ahidev decides to return the gem to Mahidev, realizing the immense value of his brother's love over material wealth.
Mahidev's Temptation: When Mahidev receives the gem, he too is tempted. He rationalizes that his elder brother is like a father and that he deserved the gem more, as he did the actual hard work. He plans to betray his brother and keep the gem for himself.
Mahidev's Realization: However, Mahidev also overcomes his greedy thoughts and decides to return the gem to Ahidev, recognizing that the gem is making them "behave like animals" and that their brotherly love is more precious.
The Gem's Corrupting Influence: The brothers acknowledge that wealth often creates enmity between brothers.
Returning the Gem to Their Mother: Upon their return, their first act is to give the gem to their mother.
The Mother's Greed: The mother is initially delighted, but soon greed takes over. She realizes her sons might ask for the gem back. Fearing this, she decides to poison them.
The Mother's Change of Heart: Just as she contemplates this, she sees her sons and is overcome with remorse. She realizes that killing her loving children for a piece of stone is a terrible sin and that she, who will soon die anyway, should not resort to such actions.
Discarding the Gem: The mother tells her sons that she doesn't want the gem, as it is making them lose their humanity. She asks them to throw it into the sea.
Happiness in Poverty: The brothers and their mother go to the seashore and throw the gem into the ocean. They realize that their poverty was preferable to the greed and hatred the gem brought. They find happiness in their simple life and their regained humanity, concluding with the question: "What is there in wealth?"

Overall Message:

"Muni Ki Raksha" is a powerful narrative that uses compelling stories to teach valuable lessons about:

The importance of righteousness and spiritual discipline in overcoming adversity.
The destructive nature of greed, malice, and ego.
The supreme value of brotherly love, compassion, and humanity over material wealth.
The concept of karma and consequences for one's actions.
The transformative power of true devotion and adherence to Jain principles.
The underlying message of the Raksha Bandhan festival as a symbol of protection and unity.