Jain Stories

Publisher: ZZZ Unknown

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PUNYA SHRAVAK
R
Inspired By: Jain Acharya Shri Bhuvanbhanusuriswarji Maharajsaheb
[4] PUNYA SHRAVAK (Content and Religious Devotion)
(1) In the province of Rajgrahi, a religious Jain named Punya was living with his wife. Due to his misfortune he could not earn more than 12 and half penny a day. (2) This little income was sufficient for two of them. But, one of them fasts on alternate day to offer food to Sadharmik (fellow Jain) with the sense of reverence. (3) Even though they were poor, they worshipped God every day with little they had and were quite satisfied. They lived by the philosophy of 'Content is the real virtue of the Soul'. Hence they would remain occupied in religious thoughts and would carry out Samayik (to sit for 48 minutes for religious activity as shown in the pictures) with equanimity. (4) Once King Shrenik asked God Mahavir "How could he avoid going to hell" God Mahavir replied "If you can obtain the fruits of one Samayik of Punya then you can abstain from going to hell. (5) The King met Punya and asked him to give the fruits of his one 'Samayik' to him. Punya replied "You can't get the fruits of Samayik with money. "Ask God that is it possible to give the fruits of Samayik?" When asked, God replied, "Even if you stake up the entire riches of all Kingdoms, the value of one Samayik can not be compared, because the kingdom is materialistic and mortal while Samayik is spiritual and immortal and the image of soul, therefore one cannot even compare it with anything. Oh! what a satisfaction and self-content of Punya Shravak despite severe poverty! Praises to the virtuous Punya!