Sadhvi Vishrut Vibha
Emancipation Through Contemplation
Arishtnemi, the twenty-second Tirthankar, initiated Dhandhana, the son of Vasudeva. Dhandhana used to go to prosperous towns but he could not get any alms due to some impediment of his own Karma. Moreover, it also happened that whenever he went with the monks, they too never got any food from the houses they visited. So he vowed that he would not take the food brought by the other monks.
One day, Lord Arishtnemi came to Dwarika. Vasudeva came to convey his regards to him, and he asked, “Gurudev, who is doing the harnest peneace of all?” To this, Lord Arishtnemi replied, “Muni Dhandhana. He is practicing to overcome the ‘Alabha Pareesha’.” “Where is he now?” asked Vasudeva. “When you enter the town, you shall see him,” replied Lord Arishtnemi.
While entering the town, Vasudeva saw a monk coming towards him. He was thin, but his face was shining. He was Dhandhana. Vasudeva got down from the elephant and paid ‘Vandana’ to the monk. By chance, Muni Dhandhana happened to come from a rich man’ house for alms who had given him modakas. Taking the alms, Dhandhana came to the ‘upaashray’ and asked the lord, “Have I destroyed my ‘Laabhantaraya Karma’?” The lord replied, “No whatever you have got today is due to the ‘Vandhana’ paid to you by Vasudeva.” the rich man was replete with devotion and so he offered you the alms.”
Then Dhandhana thought to himself, “Whatever alms I got today was due to the ‘Vandana’ but I don’t want to sustain my life on others compassion. Now I cannot give these alms to other monks.” Contemplating on this matter Muni Dhandhana reached the stage of ‘Kevalgyana’ and got emancipation.
Jain munis lead a stoical life. They have nothing of their own. They fulfill their needs by begging and requesting other for alms. All they possess is the remaining composed in any situation. Through this the path of salvation can be achieved.
