Prathamanuyoga stories in Jainism always have a moral of the
story by which one could identify the goal of life , or a role model to follow
in a specific uncertainty. We will never find a situation where at some place
the violence or grievous injury to others is accepted or praised , and in some
other place it is criticized or shunned. The fundamental principles are never
refuted. In fact even if violence is described, the result of the same is
generally borne in some future birth. Thus
Prathamanuyoga provides several tips on life style as part of the story.
Story
I – The last message of Sita
The first story is not a story, it is more a description of
an incident from Padma Purana. But it is very touching and educational. Lord
Ram had come back to Ayodhya after winning over Ravana. After some time a group
of people complain to him that people are losing moral values. Since Ram had
accepted Sita after staying in Ravan’s place, the people were indulging in sins
and giving Ram’s example as an excuse. Listening to this Ram decided to banish
Sita and directed his army chief Kritank Vakra to take Sita to forest with an
excuse of fulfilling her desire of pilgrimage and then leave her there.
Kritank Vakra with heavy heart was forced to fulfill the
orders of Ram. He took her in the chariot for a pilgrimage to visit Jain
temples and finally arrived in a dense forest. Then time had come to leave an
unsuspecting Sita. Remember she was
pregnant at that time. It was difficult for Krikant Vakra as a warrior to
follow his masters’ wishes in such a cruel manner. He started crying and tears
came out. Sita was surprised to see the
tears of this great warrior. She asked him to tell the reason particularly when
she was so happy to fulfill her wishes of completing a pilgrimage prior to
child birth.
Kritank Vakra told the truth that Ram has been carried away
by the criticism of the public of accepting Sita back and has decided to leave
Sita in the forest to her own fate and he has been directed to do the same. Although Lakshaman
tried arguing with Ram but to no avail. Just as a person without Dharma has no
shelter , it appears that without the pleasure of your master you do not have
any shelter. Neither mother or brother or family persons can help you. Just
this forest alone is the shelter.
Hearing this Sita was shocked with grief. With a broken
voice she expressed a wish she may be allowed to see Ram for seeking some answers. Kritank Vakra told that
unfortunately it was not possible since they were very far from the kingdom.
Then Sita took control of her emotions and in peaceful unperturbed manner she
gave the following last message to Kritank Vakra to carry to Ram.
“ O
chief of army ! Tell Ram on my behalf not to be sad because of discarding me. O
Great person ! you must protect your people like your children because they
love you. The only thing worth cherishing and worshiping is Samyak Darshan by
which people can get rid of this unpleasant world. O Ram ! Samyak Darshan is
more than kingdom. Because kingdoms may be lost but Samyak Darshan gives rise
to permanent peace and happiness. O great one !
Just as you have discarded me because you got scared of criticism
by the people, do not leave Samyak Darshan at any cost since it is very rare
achievement. If a jewel is dropped from hand by carelessness into an
ocean then how can it be recovered ? People talk whatever they wish since
nobody can prevent them. O king! You may hear several things which will be soul
destructing but you do not heed to them like an unbalanced person. You act
after thinking what is good for you.
Just as sun is bright and provides illumination to the world, and is never
corrupted, you remain popular like sun to all. Control anger with forgiveness,
pride with humility, deceit with honesty, greed with generosity. O my husband !
you are well versed with scriptures so it is not place to give you sermon.
Whatever I have said is due to love of my heart. If I have disrespected you ,
then please forgive me. I think our journey together was for this long only
hence whatever good or bad I have uttered need to be forgiven. “ So saying Sita got down from the chariot and
fell on the ground unconscious.
Moral of the story : The last message from Sita is
very telling and touching. She does not complain about what Ram had done. She says that just as you have
discarded me by listening to others, do not discard Samyak darshan by advice of
others. Because myself or kingdoms are
transitory but the Samyak Darshan or religion is permanent. At worst you
may suffer in this birth by my absence but after losing right belief, you will
suffer forever birth after birth. Hence do not give up right belief. People
should read this line with great care again and again.
Story
–II- The tree of Life
This story is taken from Shanti
Path Pradarshan written by Jinendra Varniji. A businessman went to sea carrying
cargo in ship. A mighty storm capsized the ship and he was fortunate to find a
plank which took him ashore on some island. He travels inside the island to
find some help. It is a dense forest with nobody to help. Suddenly he sees one
mighty elephant who gives him a chase. He starts running away from the elephant
to protect his life, crying for help from God to save him.
The
elephant was very close. He jumps and grabs hold of a branch of a Banyan tree
to save himself. He could not climb it , so he was simply hanging holding the
branch. The elephant is very angry seeing his prey escaping him so starts
shaking the Banyan tree wildly to make him fall from the tree. The businessman
is scared to death with the shaking of the tree. When he looks down, he is shocked
to see a deep dry well right underneath his feet. Thus he finds death awaiting
him if he leaves the branch. Not only this, he sees four mighty Pythons
awaiting his fall with mouth wide open in the well. When he looks up, he sees
two rats, one black and one white slowly chewing the branch from which he is
hanging. It was just a matter of time before the branch would be cut , and he
would fall in the well to sure death. One of the four pythons would surely
swallow him totally. He starts crying more loudly asking God to help him and
save him.
Meanwhile
there is a bee hive on the Banyan tree which has been disturbed by the wild
shaking of the tree hence the bees started flying and biting the poor man
angrily. He started crying more desperately for divine help.
The
fate changed. A group of Devas are flying that way in their carrier. They notice the plight of the man
and come close to him offering him assistance. One Deva offers to hold him by
hand to pick him and pull him to the air carrier. Suddenly a drop of honey
drops in the man’s mouth and he is surprised and happy to taste the sweet honey
in spite of his plight. The honey is dripping from the bee hive and he enjoys
the taste immensely and tries to taste more of it by turning his head in the
right direction.
The
deva notices his condition and reminds him to lose no time and grab hold of his
hand and come into the carrier. He tells the man that the elephant is still
shaking the tree to uproot it. If he falls earlier, he would be swallowed by
the four pythons waiting in the well. The branch by which he is hanging is
being bitten off by the two rats. Further he is also being bitten by bees. In
spite of this, he is finding pleasure in tasting the drop of honey which
occasionally drops in his mouth. The deva is surprised to see that the man is
not realizing the gravity of the situation.
The man
answers him “ I will come , just let me taste this drop. “ Then he continues to
wait for the next drop to fall in his mouth. The deva asked him again and again
to pay heed to his offer for assistance. However the man continues to avoid
him and wants to enjoy the drops of
honey.
Ultimately
the deva decided to leave him with his fate and goes away. The man continued to
wait for the eluding drops of honey, till the rats chewed the branch, with result
that he fell into the well into the open mouth of one of the pythons.
Moral of the story :
The man is hanging by the tree of life which is being shaken by the
elephant called death. The four pythons are nothing but four future forms in
which a man can take birth i.e. heaven, hell, animal and human. The branch of tree is age being chewed by black and white rats namely
day and night. The bee hive is family of wife, children etc which keep biting
him day by day in the form of demands. Sometimes their harassment make him wish for divine assistance. The
honey drop is the sensory pleasure which is felt sometimes due to which man is willing to
forgo even the divine assistance and not bothered to look at the sure death.
The deva is the guru which cajoles him with deshna( sermon) time and again to
realize the gravity of life, however the man choses to ignore it for the sake
of few drops of honey.
This is
a typical story of any person in everyday life. He is hanging by the tree of
life awaiting sure death in four gati( forms). The aging branch is being chewed
daily by time. The beehive is like his own family which is engaged in day to
day activity keeping him busy and occupied. In return he gets few drops of
honey which prevents him to even look at life beyond present. Ultimately the ayu karma expires and the person meets his
destiny.
Can our
life be different ? It is for us to decide.
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