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BHAGWAN ADINATHJI
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The soul that became Bhagavan
Ajitnath, in its earlier incarnation, was the great king Vimalvahan
of Susima city in Mahavideh area. He led a pious life in spite of
the available princely grandeur. At an appropriate time, he became
an ascetic under Arindam Suri. Meditating about the omniscient and
liberated souls and indulging in harsh penance, he purified his
soul to a level where he could earn the Tirthankar-nam-and-gotra-karma.
Completing his age, he reincarnated as a god in the Viaya-anuttar-dimension.
After completing his age in the dimension of gods, he descended
into the womb of queen Vijaya Devi, wife of king Jitshaturu of Vinita
town. Queen vijaya Devi saw the same fourteen dreams. This was a
queer coincidence. When the augers were consulted they informed
that Vijaya Devi will give birth to a Tirthankar and Vaijayanti
to a Chakravarti (monarch of six continents).
During the period of the queen’s pregnancy, the influence of king
Jitshatru enhanced to an extant that even the enemy kingdoms sought
and negotiated friendly treaties with him. it became a common practice
to say, "King Jitshatru is invincible (Ajit)."
The queen gave birth to a son on the eighth day of the bright half
of the month of Magh. Inspired by the popular lore, the king named
the new born as the Ajit. The same night vaijayanti also gave birth
to a son who was named Sagar. Then both the princes came of age
they were married. Time passed with the fusion of happiness.
When king Jitshatru became old and wanted to devote the last part
his life to spiritual pursuit, he called his younger brother and
asked him to take over the throne. Sumitra had no desire for the
kingdom, he too wanted to become an ascetic. Both the princes were
called and offered the kingdom. Ajit Kumar was a naturally detached
person since childhood, and so he too declined. At last prince Sagar
ascended the throne.
Ajit Kumar became an ascetic in his youth and went into remote and
dense forests for his meditation and penance. His personality and
the intensity of his lofty practices cast a pacifying influence
all around. Natural enemies in the animal kingdom, like lion and
cow, wolf and deer, snake and mongoose used to come and sit around
him peacefully.
After a twelve year period of deep meditation and other spiritual
practices attained omniscience on the eleventh day of the bright
half of the month of Paush. The gods created the divine pavilion
and Bhagawan Ajitnath gave his eloquent and magnetic discourses.
Thousands of people accepted the path of renunciation.
King Sagar, during this period, conquered the six continents and
became Chakravarti. King Meghvahan and Vidyadhar Bhim, the ruler
of the island of Rakshasas (demons), were the illustrious contemporaries
of Emperor Sagar. Once they went to a discourse of Bhagavan Ajitnath.
There, Vidyadhar Bhim was drawn towards spiritual life. He became
so detached that he gave his kingdom including the famous cities
of Lanka and Patal Lanka to king Meghvahan. He also gave all his
knowledge and miraculous powers to Meghvahan. Besides this he gave
a divine necklace of nine large and shining beads. Meghvahan was
the first king of the Rakshas clan in which the famous king Ravana
was born. |
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