Natak Ho To Aise - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain comic book "Natak Ho To Aise" (If there's a play, it should be like this) by Yogesh Jain, published by Mukti Comics:

Overall Theme:

The comic book "Natak Ho To Aise" is a Jain narrative that explores the concept of true art, dedication, and ultimately, the path to spiritual liberation (moksha). It uses the life of a skilled actor, Brahmagulal, to illustrate that worldly performances pale in comparison to the profound and transformative "play" of a spiritual life. The underlying message emphasizes that true fulfillment and the highest form of art lie in mastering one's inner self and adhering to righteous conduct.

Story 1: Brahmagulal - The Master Actor

Introduction: The story introduces Brahmagulal, a prince's friend and a highly talented actor. The prince constantly praises Brahmagulal's ability to embody any character he portrays.
The Challenge: A jealous minister conspires against Brahmagulal. He incites the prince to demand that Brahmagulal prove his acting prowess by impersonating a lion and demonstrating its ferocity.
The Test: Brahmagulal agrees, but requests forgiveness for any unintentional offense during his performance. The prince secures a promise from the king to forgive any transgression.
The Performance: During the play, Brahmagulal, disguised as a fearsome lion, is presented with a goat. However, the prince, influenced by the minister, taunts the "lion" for being cowardly and ineffective.
Tragic Outcome: Enraged and fully immersed in his role, Brahmagulal (as the lion) lunges and, in his ferocity, kills the prince. The play turns into a tragedy, and Brahmagulal, in human form, is filled with remorse for his unintended, grave offense.
The Minister's Scheme Continues: The king is devastated. The minister, however, suggests that Brahmagulal's act might have been intentional. To further test his sincerity, the minister proposes that Brahmagulal enact the role of a Digambar Jain monk, known for renunciation and austerity.
Brahmagulal's Decision: Brahmagulal understands the gravity of this request. He realizes that the life of a Digambar monk is not a mere act but a profound commitment to spiritual practice. He spends time observing the rigorous discipline of Jain monks and understands the depth of their detachment.
Family Objections: Brahmagulal informs his mother of his intention to become a monk. His mother is heartbroken, fearing the separation and the finality of the monastic vow. His brother also expresses concern, noting that such a path requires deep sincerity and cannot be performed for worldly applause.
Acceptance and Transformation: Brahmagulal, with conviction, accepts the challenge. He realizes that this is the ultimate "play" – the play of renunciation and self-realization. He seeks permission from his family, who reluctantly agree, recognizing the sincerity of his resolve.
Public Reaction: News of Brahmagulal's decision spreads, leading to varied reactions. Some mock him, thinking he's seeking attention, while others understand the profound commitment of becoming a Jain monk.
The Realization: Brahmagulal realizes that true art is not about outward performance but inner transformation. He sees that his previous roles, while skillful, were ultimately empty and led to suffering. He begins rigorous preparation, observing monks and understanding the true meaning of detachment.
The Monk's Life: Brahmagulal, now a monk, preaches in the royal court. He explains that the soul, by nature pure and powerful, gets entangled in worldly attachments and forgets its true essence, much like an actor engrossed in a role. He emphasizes that true identity lies in the soul, not the borrowed roles.
The King's Test and Brahmagulal's Wisdom: The king, still testing, asks Brahmagulal to revert to his original form. Brahmagulal, however, reveals that the true "play" is not changing costumes but realizing one's eternal self. He explains that the soul has played countless roles across lifetimes and the ultimate aim is to shed all borrowed identities and realize the pure, unchanging soul. He then departs to meditate in the forest.
The Lion's Return and King's Renunciation: A lion, which was part of the earlier play (and possibly Brahmagulal's past life as a prince), appears. The king recognizes Brahmagulal's profound wisdom and the transformative power of the monastic path. He realizes his own attachment to worldly possessions and lineage. The lion, witnessing Brahmagulal's devotion, also seems to be touched by the spiritual atmosphere. The king, filled with remorse for his attachment and realizing the futility of worldly power, requests monastic initiation from Brahmagulal.
Conclusion: The story concludes with Brahmagulal demonstrating that the highest art is living a life of detachment and realizing one's true, pure soul. The king, understanding the essence of this spiritual "play," renounces the world. The comic reinforces that true art leads to liberation.

Story 2: Angarak - The Jewel Maker

The Wife's Envy: A wife, filled with envy towards her neighbor's new jewelry, expresses her desire for beautiful ornaments to her husband. She believes that wealth and adornment are the keys to societal respect.
The Unique Necklace: Her husband, a jeweler named Angarak, promises to create a unique necklace, one that no one has ever made. He recalls a skilled artisan named Angarak who made such ornaments for a king but no longer does.
Angarak's Story (Flashback): The narrative shifts to the story of the original Angarak, a clever jeweler. The king commissions him to create exceptional jewelry from gold and precious gems.
The Noble Deed: While working on the jewelry, Angarak hears the sound of a muni (Jain monk) approaching. He and his wife, with great devotion, offer alms to the muni, seeing it as a great opportunity for spiritual merit.
The Theft and False Accusation: After the muni departs, Angarak discovers that the king's precious gem is missing. He suspects the muni and, in his anger and attachment to worldly possessions, goes to the forest to confront the muni.
The Muni's Patience and the Bird: The muni remains silent and patient despite Angarak's accusations and abuse. Angarak, in his rage, throws stones at the muni, and one of them knocks the gem from a bird's nest. The bird, having taken the gem, drops it.
Realization and Repentance: Angarak realizes his mistake and the muni's innocence. He apologizes profusely to the muni and returns the gem to the king, confessing his own folly. He understands that his attachment to the gem and his anger led him astray.
The True Art: Angarak then tells the king that he has stopped making worldly jewelry and will now focus on creating the "jewels" of self-control and spiritual understanding within his own soul, using the rare human birth. The king blesses him.
The Wife's Lesson: The story returns to the present. The wife, having gotten the necklace from the husband, goes to an event. She finds that her necklace is ignored, while her neighbor's newly acquired jewelry is admired. She then sets her house on fire to draw attention to her own jewelry. However, this act is met with condemnation, not admiration.
Conclusion: The comic emphasizes that true value and respect come from inner qualities and spiritual attainment, not from outward possessions or worldly "art." The wife learns that her pursuit of external adornment and her envy were misguided.

Publisher's Note (Page 2 and 35):

The "Prakashakiya" (Editorial) on page 2 expresses joy in publishing their second comic, "Mukti Comics," and their ambition to publish 21 comics by the 21st century, inspired by positive feedback on their first comic, "Kundesh se Kundkund." They acknowledge financial support and apologize for publication delays. Page 35, an editorial by Dr. Yogeshchandra Jain, elaborates on the unique characteristics of Jain narrative literature. It highlights that Jain protagonists are not divine but ordinary beings striving for Vitraagta (detachment) and often conclude their stories by embracing the Digambar (naked) state. He explains that Brahmagulal is a character from the 16th-17th century, whose story combines historical elements with imaginative ones to serve as a moral guide for the younger generation.

Key Jain Concepts Illustrated:

Karma: The consequences of actions, both intentional and unintentional, are clearly shown in Brahmagulal's story and Angarak's tale.
Renunciation (Vairagya): The desire to renounce worldly attachments for spiritual pursuit is a central theme, exemplified by Brahmagulal's transformation.
Ahimsa (Non-violence): While Brahmagulal's lion act leads to accidental violence, the overall message favors non-violence and the inherent purity of the soul. Angarak's story also highlights the muni's unwavering adherence to non-violence.
Detachment (Vitraagta): The ultimate goal of Jainism, achieved through self-control and understanding the true nature of the soul.
The Soul (Atma): The comic emphasizes the eternal and pure nature of the soul, which is often forgotten due to worldly attachments and "roles" played in life.
Righteous Conduct: The importance of ethical behavior, devotion, and understanding the principles of Jainism is paramount.
The True "Play": The comic posits that the most significant and rewarding "play" is the journey towards spiritual liberation, not worldly performances.

In essence, "Natak Ho To Aise" uses engaging narratives to convey profound Jain teachings about the true meaning of life, the pursuit of virtue, and the ultimate goal of self-realization through detachment and spiritual discipline.