Nandishen Muni Charitram - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Nandishen Muni Charitram" by Shubhshil Gani, based on the provided pages:

The text, "Nandishen Muni Charitram," authored by Shubhshil Gani and published by Shravak Hiralal Hansraj, details the life and spiritual journey of a Jain monk named Nandishen. The work is presented in prose and aims to serve the Jinshasan (teachings of the Jina). The book was printed at Shri Jain Bhaskaroday Press in Jamnagar.

The narrative begins with the First Nandishen Muni Charitra:

Past Life of Bhima: The story starts with a poor man named Bhima who seeks employment from a Brahmin. The Brahmin offers him food and clothing in exchange for servitude. Bhima agrees, with the condition that he receives the leftover food. Bhima diligently serves the Brahmin, and importantly, he gives the leftover food to ascetics and holy men. Due to this merit, after his death, Bhima is reborn as a god in the heavens.
Rebirth as Nandishen: After exhausting his heavenly lifespan, Bhima's soul descends and is reborn as Nandishen, the son of King Shrenik in Rajagriha, Magadha.
The Elephant's Tale: Meanwhile, the Brahmin from Bhima's past life is reborn as an elephant. This elephant becomes the leader of a herd and, due to past karmic influences, develops a cruel nature. He begins killing all newborn elephant calves. A pregnant female elephant, recognizing this danger to her unborn offspring, feigns a leg ailment to lag behind the herd. She seeks refuge in a hermitage of ascetics.
Birth and Upbringing of the Elephant Calf: The pregnant elephant gives birth to a calf in the hermitage. The ascetics raise the calf, naming him "Sechanak" because he helps them water the trees with water from his trunk. Sechanak grows up with the ascetics' children.
The Elephant's Cruelty and Capture: One day, Sechanak, filled with arrogance, destroys the hermitage. The ascetics inform King Shrenik, who then dispatches his army and skilled handlers to capture the elephant. Despite their efforts, the elephant cannot be subdued.
Nandishen Subdues the Elephant: Prince Nandishen, upon seeing his father's distress, requests permission to capture the elephant. Upon seeing Nandishen, Sechanak (the elephant) gains Jatismaran Gyan (knowledge of past lives). He recognizes Nandishen from his past life and surrenders. Nandishen presents the subdued elephant to his father, King Shrenik, who makes the elephant a royal elephant and rewards Nandishen.
Nandishen Hears Lord Mahavir's Discourse: Lord Mahavir, the Tirthankar, arrives in the royal garden. King Shrenik and Prince Nandishen go to listen to his sermon. Lord Mahavir emphasizes the rarity and importance of human birth, the Kshatriya caste, good lineage, health, wealth, compassion for all beings, the Jain dharma, the company of good gurus, listening to religious scriptures, faith in dharma, and the attainment of vow-taking (partial or full). He urges people to utilize these rare advantages for spiritual progress and liberation.
Nandishen's Question and Decision: Nandishen, inspired by the sermon, asks Lord Mahavir how the elephant Sechanak became so devoted to him. Lord Mahavir explains the past life connections. Nandishen, deeply moved and eager to renounce the world, seeks permission for Diksha (initiation into monkhood).
Divine Intervention and Nandishen's Renunciation: A divine voice (from a Shasan Devi) intervenes, advising Nandishen to wait as he still has worldly pleasures to experience. However, Nandishen, driven by his strong resolve, initiates his Diksha through his own spiritual power.
Nandishen's Asceticism and Temptations: As a monk, Nandishen practices intense austerities, studies scriptures, and meditates on the twelve bhavanas (contemplations). He endures hardships and strives to eradicate his karma. He faces strong temptations, particularly desires arising from his past life's karma. The Shasan Devi tries to pull him back into worldly pleasures. At one point, to escape these temptations, he attempts to jump from a mountain but is saved by the Shasan Devi, who advises him that he cannot die until his karmic fruits are exhausted.
Encounter with the Courtesan: During a fast, Nandishen enters the house of a courtesan for alms. The courtesan, materialistic and proud of her wealth, dismisses his teachings of "Dharmalabh" (spiritual gain). Nandishen, influenced by ego and the desire to show his power, manifests twelve crore gold coins. He offers this wealth to the courtesan.
Nandishen's Fall: The courtesan, impressed by his power and wealth, stops him and persuades him to abandon his ascetic life and enjoy worldly pleasures with her. Remembering the Shasan Devi's earlier words, Nandishen succumbs to his remaining "bhog karma" (karma related to enjoyment) and accepts her offer.
Nandishen's Vow and Preaching: Nandishen takes a vow to preach and convert ten men to Jainism daily before he eats. He lives with the courtesan, abandoning his monastic attire, and continues his preaching. Despite his fallen state, he successfully converts people.
The Goldsmith and the Realization: After twelve years, he has converted nine men. When a goldsmith refuses to be converted, Nandishen is unable to break his vow and eat. The courtesan, seeing his struggle and realizing the futility of his situation, playfully suggests that Nandishen himself be the tenth person. This remark makes Nandishen realize his remaining karmic fruits are depleted.
Return to the Path: With remorse, Nandishen leaves the courtesan's house, albeit after she tries to dissuade him. He returns to his Guru, confesses his actions, and after proper purification and contemplation, takes Diksha again. He performs severe penances, eradicates his karma, and finally achieves liberation (moksha).

The text then proceeds to the Second Nandishen Muni Charitra:

Birth and Early Life: Nandishen is born in Nandigram in the Magadha country. His parents, Somila and his wife, die when he is young. Nandishen is born exceptionally ugly, causing his relatives to abandon him. Destitute and sorrowful, he goes to his maternal uncle's house.
Uncle's Offer and Rejection: His maternal uncle, pleased with Nandishen's humble service and hard work, offers him one of his seven daughters in marriage. However, the daughters refuse to marry Nandishen due to his ugliness. The uncle tries to find other suitable matches, but again, the daughters reject him.
Despair and Renunciation: Feeling utterly rejected and believing his past bad karma is manifesting, Nandishen decides that death is his only refuge. He leaves his uncle's home, filled with despair and a sense of detachment, and travels to Ratnapura city.
Encounter with a Monk: In Ratnapura, witnessing others' happiness with their wives, Nandishen is further tormented and decides to commit suicide by jumping from a mountain. He is stopped by a monk who is performing Kayotsarga (a meditation posture).
Monk's Guidance and Nandishen's Diksha: Nandishen explains his plight to the monk. The monk advises him that suicide will not free him from karma but lead to lower realms. He teaches Nandishen that adhering to the principles taught by Lord Mahavir (the Vitrag) can help break past karma and lead to happiness in this life and the next. Inspired by this advice, Nandishen takes Diksha from the monk.
Nandishen's Vow of Service: As a monk, Nandishen studies scriptures and becomes learned. He takes a vow to serve and care for sick, old, and infirm monks (Vaiyavruttya) before eating.
Test of His Vow: Indra, the king of gods, observes Nandishen's unwavering devotion to his vow. To test him, Indra appears in the form of a severely ill monk suffering from dysentery and burning thirst, and leaves him outside the monastery. Another god, in the guise of a monk, confronts Nandishen, questioning why he is about to eat without attending to the sick monk.
Nandishen's Perseverance: Nandishen immediately sets out to fetch pure water. The gods, trying to obstruct him, render the water impure at every house he visits. Despite this, Nandishen, through his spiritual power, obtains pure water. He finds the sick monk and, undeterred by the foul smell and the monk's constant complaints and insults, begins to clean him and attend to his needs.
Divine Recognition and Liberation: Seeing Nandishen's absolute dedication and the absence of any aversion or anger towards the difficult monk, the god is pleased. He reveals himself, cleans the soiled area, showers flowers on Nandishen, and declares him blessed and even superior to how Indra had described him. The god asks for forgiveness and departs. Nandishen continues his ascetic practice for a long time, eventually achieving liberation.
Nandishen's Last Life and the Cause of Rebirth: In his final life before becoming Mahashakra (a high celestial being), Nandishen practices intense penance. While performing his vows, he sees the prosperity of a Chakravarti (Emperor) and, experiencing attraction towards women, makes a wish (nidan) to be a beloved of many women in his next life due to his penances. He dies and is reborn as Vasudev, the tenth son of Vasudev and Subhadra in Suryapura, becoming a ruler with 72,000 queens, enjoying immense pleasures. His life story is further detailed in the "Vasudev-Hinḍimbi Charitra" and related texts.

The book concludes with a dedication to Niti Vijayji Bhandare.

In essence, "Nandishen Muni Charitram" narrates the story of a soul's journey through multiple lifetimes, highlighting the consequences of karma, the importance of righteous conduct, the power of vows, the challenges of temptations, and the ultimate path to spiritual liberation through rigorous penance and adherence to Jain principles. It emphasizes that even fallen states can be overcome with sincere repentance and a return to the righteous path.