Tu Rangai Jane Rangma 01

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Tu Rangai Jane Rangma 01" based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Tu Rangai Jane Rangma 01 (Meaning: "You Get Colored in the Color") Author(s)/Publisher: Purnanand Prakashan, Ahmedabad Target Audience: Young children Purpose: To introduce Jain principles and stories to children through coloring and narrative. It aims to foster artistic development alongside spiritual knowledge.

Overall Theme: The book is a coloring storybook designed to immerse young children in the "color" of Jainism. It presents stories of revered Jain figures and concepts in an engaging and interactive format. The core idea is to make religious learning enjoyable and accessible through art and storytelling.

Key Elements and Content Breakdown:

• Introduction (Page 1 & 3):

  • The book is presented as a coloring storybook aimed at coloring children in the hues of Jainism.
  • It promises to introduce children to the "shining stars" of the Jain tradition.
  • The intention is to awaken a child's artistic inclination and simultaneously color them with the "color of religion."
  • Children are encouraged to delve into the lives of these great souls by filling in their preferred colors, thereby improving their understanding of colors and art.
  • The publisher is Purnanand Prakashan, Ahmedabad.

• Instructions and Competition (Page 2):

  • This page provides instructions for children participating in a competition related to the coloring storybook.
  • Task: Children are to answer ten questions based on the coloring storybook.
  • Method of Answering: Answers should be written only on postcards, in one word or one sentence.
  • Required Information: Postcards must include the child's full name, address, and membership number.
  • Coloring Advice: Children are advised not to color all pictures in one day, but to do it gradually to enjoy the process and allow colors to set properly, promoting artistic development.
  • Prize: Five lucky winners will receive a special number and their names will be published in the next book. They will also be eligible for prizes.
  • Submission Deadline: December 31, 2009.
  • Encouragement: Children who enjoy the book are encouraged to inspire their friends to become members.
  • Future Competition: A warning is given to preserve the book, as the fourth issue will include a question paper based on all four books of the year, with various prizes planned.

• The Stories and Concepts (Pages 4-19): Each subsequent page features a story accompanied by a coloring illustration:

  • Page 4 & 5: 1. Diksha Mahotsav (Initiation Festival) - Vachaswami Ji:

    • Illustrates the initiation ceremony of Vachaswami (originally Vajrakumar).
    • Explains the joy and significance of renouncing the worldly life to embrace asceticism.
    • Highlights the ritual of receiving the "ogho" (a broom-like instrument) and "rajoharan" (a purification tool) from the Guru, which makes the initiate dance with joy.
    • Vajrakumar's story: He cried from birth, and only stopped when his mother gave him to his Guru. He gained prior-life knowledge and desired initiation. He danced with joy upon receiving the "ogho."
    • Message: Children are encouraged to think about when they will dance with the "ogho" and realize that true happiness lies in living a life of renunciation without causing harm (himsa).

  • Page 6 & 7: 2. Bala Munim Aimuttha Muni:

    • Tells the story of a young boy named Aimuttha, who loved games but even more loved religion.
    • He once ran to greet Gautam Swami, who was on his alms round, and invited him home to eat.
    • He meticulously offered his food, knowing the rules of alms-giving.
    • He learned that to hold a begging bowl ("patra"), one must take initiation.
    • Despite his mother's concerns about his age, he insisted on taking initiation, understanding the inevitability of death but not its timing.
    • As a young monk, he once floated his small begging bowl in a puddle, and it outran other paper boats. He was gently reprimanded by senior monks for potentially harming aquatic life (apkay).
    • He repented his mistake, performed "Iriyavahi" (a posture of penitence), and achieved Kevalgyan (omniscience).
    • Messages: Learn religion from a young age, admit mistakes, repent, and be careful not to repeat them. Be grateful to those who point out your errors.

  • Page 8 & 9: 3. Shadh Leshyavriksh (The Six Leaf-Colors Tree):

    • Uses an analogy of six friends who encounter a Jamun tree with ripe fruits. Their approaches to getting the fruits represent different levels of harm.
    • Friend Krishna wants to cut the whole tree.
    • Friend Neel wants to break branches.
    • Friend Kapot wants to break small branches.
    • Friend Pit wants to break fruit-bearing branches.
    • Friend Padm wants to pluck fruits from the tree.
    • Friend Shukl wants to pick only the fallen fruits.
    • Explanation of Leshya: This analogy is linked to the six "Leshya" (tendencies or colors of the soul) in Jainism, which represent the mind's state and disposition.
    • The first three Leshyas (Krishna, Neel, Kapot) are considered inauspicious (ashubh), leading to suffering, hell, or lower life forms.
    • The last three Leshyas (Pit, Padm, Shukl) are auspicious (shubh), leading to good destinations, liberation, or higher rebirths.
    • Message: Choose good company and engage in religious practices (worship, meditation, charity, penance) to cultivate auspicious thoughts and auspicious Leshyas. Avoid thoughts of harming others; always think about how to benefit them.

  • Page 10 & 11: 4. Rohiniyo Chor (Rohiniya the Thief):

    • Tells the story of Rohiniya, the son of the notorious thief Lohkhur.
    • His father instructed him never to listen to Lord Mahavir's teachings.
    • Rohiniya would cover his ears with his fingers to avoid hearing the Lord's voice when passing by the Samavasaran (assembly).
    • One day, while rushing with his fingers in his ears, he stepped on a thorn, causing him pain and forcing him to remove one finger from his ear.
    • He accidentally heard Lord Mahavir describing the celestial beings (Devas) whose feet don't touch the ground, their eyes don't blink, their garlands don't wilt, and who cast no shadow.
    • Rohiniya felt remorse for breaking his father's promise, but thought that the promise would only be broken if he retained the words in his mind.
    • He was eventually caught by Minister Abhaykumar, but without evidence. Abhaykumar tricked him by making him believe he was in heaven after getting him drunk.
    • Rohiniya, remembering the Lord's words about Devas, realized it was a trick. He claimed he had only done good deeds.
    • He was freed and, realizing the benefit of even a short exposure to the Lord's words, he confessed his crimes to King Shrenik, returned stolen goods, and took initiation from Lord Mahavir.
    • Message: Listening to the Lord's teachings, even for a moment, can improve one's life.

  • Page 12 & 13: 5. Shalibhadra - Khir Vohravta (Shalibhadra Offering Kheer):

    • Tells the story of Sangam, a poor shepherd boy.
    • His mother, due to poverty, couldn't afford to make kheer (rice pudding) for him, despite his crying.
    • Neighbors helped with ingredients, and his mother prepared the kheer.
    • While waiting for the kheer to cool, Sangam saw a mendicant monk passing by and, with great enthusiasm, offered all the kheer to the monk.
    • This act of selfless charity and devotion, done with pure intent, earned him immense merit.
    • That night, despite being poor, he was reborn as Shalibhadra, the son of a rich merchant, receiving wealth daily from heaven.
    • Later, Shalibhadra renounced wealth and embraced asceticism, achieving liberation.
    • Messages: Acts of religious devotion done with sincere intention yield great results. Keep good deeds secret and rejoice (anumoḍanā) in them.

  • Page 14 & 15: 6. Prabhu Vir ne Kanma Khila (Lord Vir's Ears Pierced with Nails):

    • Describes the severe "upsargas" (hardships) faced by Lord Mahavir after his initiation.
    • One particular hardship was inflicted by a shepherd boy. While Lord Mahavir was in deep meditation, the shepherd left his cattle in his care.
    • When the shepherd returned and couldn't find his cattle (which were grazing nearby), he became angry, accusing Lord Mahavir of hiding them and mocking him.
    • Since Lord Mahavir remained silent, the shepherd's anger grew. He declared Lord Mahavir's ears useless as they didn't listen.
    • He then fashioned two nails from a tree branch and hammered them into Lord Mahavir's ears, ensuring they touched each other, and trimmed the protruding parts to prevent removal.
    • Despite this excruciating pain, Lord Mahavir endured it with equanimity, without shouting, crying, or resisting. This is called an excellent "upsarga."
    • By enduring such hardships and shedding his deluding karmas, Lord Mahavir attained Kevalgyan.
    • Message: Greatness is achieved through endurance. Even when powerful, one should practice patience.

  • Page 16 & 17: 7. Puniyo Shravak (Puniyo the Devotee):

    • Tells the story of Puniyo, a devout follower.
    • King Shrenik of Rajgir, having committed sins through hunting, asked Lord Mahavir for a way to avoid hell.
    • Lord Mahavir told him that the merit of one "Samayik" (a period of equanimity and meditation) of Puniyo would break his hellish journey.
    • Puniyo was once a wealthy merchant who renounced his possessions due to the fear of sin associated with accumulation (parigraha).
    • He and his wife lived simply, earning their daily bread by making and selling cotton wicks, without worrying about the future. They focused on their work and performed Samayik with pure intentions.
    • King Shrenik asked Puniyo for the merit of his Samayik. Puniyo advised the king to first ask Lord Mahavir for its value, stating that religious merit cannot be bought like market goods.
    • Lord Mahavir declared that Puniyo's one Samayik's value is immeasurable, surpassing the entire kingdom and even mountains of wealth.
    • Message: Practicing Samayik daily is highly beneficial. Cultivate contentment, fear sin, and avoid unnecessary worries.

  • Page 18 & 19: 8. Amarkumar (Amar the Prince):

    • Tells the story of King Shrenik's desire to build a magnificent picture gallery.
    • The construction repeatedly failed, with walls collapsing. Sages suggested a sacrifice of a boy with thirty-two auspicious marks.
    • A poor Brahmin couple, tempted by a reward of one lakh gold coins, gave their son Amar to the king.
    • Amar, who had previously met a Jain monk and learned the Navkar mantra, cried but was handed over.
    • During the sacrificial ritual, Amar, with faith, chanted the Navkar mantra, believing it was his only refuge and would save him.
    • As the priests attempted to throw him into the sacrificial fire, a golden throne appeared, and Amar sat upon it, unharmed. A divine being manifested and protected him with the throne, showcasing the power of the Navkar mantra.
    • Message: Recite the Navkar mantra with a true heart during any calamity; it will always bring good.

• Sponsors (Page 20):

  • Lists the supporters of the book from Devkinandan Jain Sangh and Laxmivardhak Jain Sangh, Ahmedabad.

In essence, "Tu Rangai Jane Rangma 01" is a vibrant and educational resource designed to instill Jain values in children through the joyful activity of coloring and the compelling narratives of spiritual exemplars. It emphasizes righteousness, penance, devotion, and the power of mantras, all presented in a child-friendly manner.