Rohini Ashokchandra Katha

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Title: Rohini Ashokchandra Katha (The Story of Rohini and Ashokchandra) Author: Kanakkushal Publisher: Jain Atmanand Sabha Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/034181/1

This Jain text, authored by Kanakkushal and published by the Jain Atmanand Sabha, narrates the inspiring story of Princess Rohini and King Ashokchandra, highlighting the power of religious devotion, penance, and good deeds.

The Story Unfolds:

The narrative begins by praising the Tirthankar Parshva and Goddess Saraswati. It then introduces the kingdom of Anga, a prosperous region in Bharat Kshetra, with its capital city Champa. The king of Champa is Maghava, a wise and just ruler, who is devoted to his queen, Premvati. They have eight sons and one daughter named Rohini.

Princess Rohini:

Rohini is described as exceptionally beautiful, accomplished in 64 arts, eloquent, virtuous, and deeply devoted to righteous principles. She is the joy of her parents and her entire family.

The Swyamvara (Swayamvara):

Upon reaching marriageable age, King Maghava organizes a swayamvara (a ceremony where a princess chooses her husband). Kings and princes from numerous kingdoms, including Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Andhra, Jalandhara, Marusthala, Lata, Notamahanota, Medapata, Virata, Gauda, Chola, Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Kuru, Gurjara, Pani, Kora, Kashmir, Nepal, Kanyakubja, Kuntala, Magadha, Nishadha, Sindhu, Vidarbha, and Dravida, gather for the occasion. They are all depicted as handsome, well-adorned, and arriving in magnificent chariots and aerial vehicles.

Rohini's Choice:

Rohini, after observing all the assembled royalty, blesses them. She then gracefully places the marriage garland around the neck of Ashokchandra, the prince of a kingdom, described as righteous, wise, and beloved by his people. Ashokchandra is identified as the son of King Veetashoka, who is implied to be a virtuous ruler.

Marriage and Royal Life:

King Maghava, pleased with Rohini's choice, hosts a grand wedding ceremony. Ashokchandra and Rohini are married, and they reside in Champa for some time at the king's request. During this period, Rohini's mother imparts valuable life lessons to her daughter, emphasizing devotion to her husband, respect for elders, and the importance of righteous conduct, virtues, knowledge, and humility. Rohini diligently follows this advice.

A Test of Character:

Later, Ashokchandra takes Rohini to his own kingdom. One day, while sitting with their young son in a palace chamber, they witness a woman weeping outside, mourning the loss of her child. Rohini, unaware of the true nature of suffering, remarks that she doesn't understand such grief, believing her own life of luxury shields her from such pain.

King Ashokchandra, to teach her a lesson about the universality of suffering and the consequences of past actions, takes their son from her lap, tears him away from her, and drops him. The onlookers cry out in shock. However, the child, miraculously unharmed, lands safely and begins to laugh. The king then explains to Rohini that while she doesn't experience such grief, others do due to the karmic consequences of their past deeds. This incident highlights the Jain concept of karma and its impact on one's life.

Encounter with Saints:

The story then describes an encounter with two esteemed Jain monks, Rupyakunj and Swarnakunj. They impart teachings on the importance of practicing Dharma (righteousness) with a perishable body, likening the body to a well that can draw forth the nectar of Dharma. They emphasize that Dharma is the medicine for evil deeds and that one should offer charity and serve the virtuous.

Rohini's Past Life and the Significance of Penance:

The king, impressed by the monks' teachings and Rohini's seemingly unshakeable composure during the past incident, asks for an explanation of her lack of suffering and the reason for her deep affection for him. The monks reveal Rohini's past life story:

In a previous existence, Rohini was born as a daughter of a wealthy merchant named Dhanmitra. She was ugly, smelled foul, and was married to a man named Shreshti. Shreshti eventually abandoned her due to her unpleasantness. Her father, trying to be charitable, offered her to a thief, but she was still rejected. She was admonished to be charitable, but no one would accept anything from her due to her past karma. She died in misery and suffered in hells.

Later, she was reborn as a cow who, at the time of death, heard and appreciated the Namaskar Mantra and died peacefully, leading to a better rebirth.

The monks explain that Rohini's suffering in her past life was due to her negative actions, while her eventual positive rebirths were influenced by her appreciation of virtuous deeds and the Namaskar Mantra.

The Path to Liberation:

To overcome her remaining karmic burdens and achieve liberation, the monks advise Rohini to perform a specific penance dedicated to Lord Vasupujya. This involves fasting for seven months, specifically on the day of the Rohini constellation, and worshiping Lord Vasupujya. The monks also instruct her to commission a beautiful image of Lord Vasupujya and worship it regularly.

The Story of Sugandha:

The monks then explain the story of Sugandha, a king whose son was born with the name Sugandha (meaning fragrant). This king was actually the soul of the monk Sugandha, who, in a previous life, had shown kindness to a hunter and, through the merit of that simple act and the Namaskar Mantra, was reborn as a king. This highlights how even small acts of merit, combined with devotion, can lead to significant positive outcomes. The narrative traces Sugandha's soul through various rebirths, emphasizing the impact of past actions and the eventual attainment of liberation through penance and virtuous conduct.

The Reason for Rohini and Ashokchandra's Bond:

The monks explain that the deep bond and affection between Rohini and Ashokchandra stem from their shared past lives and their accumulated merits. They recount the story of Arka Kirti, who was the soul of Sugandha, and his parents, King Vimalkirti and Queen Chaturika. Their son, Arka Kirti, after enjoying a life of virtue and knowledge, renounced the world and attained liberation. It is revealed that Rohini and Ashokchandra were the children of King Vimalkirti and Queen Chaturika in that past life.

The Virtuous Deeds of Rohini's Daughters:

The story further illustrates the consequences of past actions by detailing the fate of Rohini's four daughters. In a previous life, as daughters of a Vidyadhara king, they were advised by a monk to perform penance on the auspicious day of Shukla Panchami. While they initially hesitated, they eventually followed the advice and performed the penance, leading to their rebirth as fortunate beings. The text emphasizes that through penance and virtuous deeds, one can achieve happiness and liberation.

Conclusion and Admonition:

The monks conclude by reiterating the immense power of penance, specifically the Rohini penance. They encourage Rohini and Ashokchandra to continue their spiritual journey with diligence. The story then recounts their eventual renunciation of worldly pleasures, their practice of severe penance, and their final attainment of liberation.

The narrative is presented as being composed by Kanakkushal, inspired by his Guru, Vijayasen Suri. The text concludes with a blessing and the assertion that anyone who diligently follows the Rohini penance will attain happiness and liberation.

Key Themes:

• Karma: The story strongly emphasizes the Jain principle of karma, where past actions (good and bad) determine one's present and future circumstances.
• Penance (Tapas): The text highlights the transformative power of penance as a means to purify the soul, overcome karmic obstacles, and achieve liberation.
• Devotion: Devotion to Jain Tirthankaras and spiritual guides is portrayed as crucial for spiritual progress.
• Virtue and Righteousness: Living a life of virtue, adhering to moral principles, and practicing compassion are central to the narrative.
• The Namaskar Mantra: The auspiciousness and power of the Navkar Mantra are subtly underscored through its influence on the characters' destinies.
• Past Lives: The concept of reincarnation and the influence of actions from previous lives are integral to the plot.

In essence, "Rohini Ashokchandra Katha" is a didactic narrative that illustrates the principles of Jainism through the compelling story of a royal couple, encouraging readers to embrace a life of devotion, penance, and ethical conduct to achieve spiritual fulfillment and ultimate liberation.