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Shrikrishna started the search for a suitable match. One of his queens, Satyabhama, informed that her beautiful and delicate
younger sister, Rajul, would be an extremely suitable match for Nemi Kumar. Shrikrishna finalized all arrangements. On the
arranged date the marriage procession started with Nemi Kumar riding the decorated king elephant. All the kings and princes
of the Yadav clan joined the procession with their royal regalia and retinue. When the procession was approaching the
destination, Nemi Kumar saw that on the side of he road there were large fenced areas and cages full of wailing animals and
birds. Filled with sympathy and compassion, he asked the elephant driver why those animals and birds were being kept in
bondage. The driver informed him that the creatures were collected to be butchered for meat for the large number of guests
attending his marriage. (AN-3/a)
Nemi Kumar was filled with despair and a feeling of detachment. He said to the elephant drive, “If I agree to be the cause of
the butchering of so many living beings my life and the one to come will be filled with pain and misery. So, i will not marry.
Immediately arrange for the release of all these creatures; turn back and head for Dwarka”. The driver looked at him in
astonishment. Nemi Kumar
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The driver went and opened the gated of the fenced areas and cages. The animals jumped and ran away into the jungle.
They were saved from the torture of death. The driver came back and turned the elephant towards Dwarka. On the way Nemi
Kumar took out all valuables and ornaments on his body and handed them over to the elephant driver. (AN-3/b)
The news spread panic in the marriage procession. All the seniors of the Yadav clan tried to change the mind of Nemi Kumar,
but in vein. Even Shrikrishna could not dissuade him from his determination. Nemi Kumar said to the elders, “As these
animals were prisoners in the cages, we all are prisoners in cages of karma which are much stronger than these fences. See
the feeling of joy evident in the animals released from the cages. Know that happiness is in freedom, not in bondage. I want
to try the path of breaking this bondage of Karma and embrace eternal bliss. Please do not stop me”.
When Rajimati, dressed as bride, heard of this act of Nemi Kumar she could not tolerate the sting of sorrow. She fainted with
shock. When she recovered she started crying and again lost consciousness. (AN-4/a)
After a yearlong charity, Nemi Kumar sat in a palanquin named Uttarkura, and, passing through the town of Dwarka, arrived
in the Raivatak garden. He got down under an Ashoka tree and pulled out five fistful of hair after taking off all ornaments and
the royal dress. He became ascetic alongwith one thousand person on the sixth day of the bright half of the month of
Shravan. Shrikrishna was deeply touched by this incident; he blessed his younger cousin and wished him success in his
mission. (AN-4/b)
Arhat Neminath spent fifty-four days in deep spiritual practices and then went to Vijayant hill (Girnar). On the fifteenth day of
the dark half of the month of Ashvin, in the afternoon, he was observing a two days fast and was meditating under a bamboo
tree when he became an omniscient. Establishing the four pronged religious organizations (Tirth) he became the twentysecond
Tirthankar.
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When Rajimati recovered from the melancholy she decided to follow the path taken by Neminath. Prince Rathnemi, the
younger brother of Neminath, tried his best to seduce Rajimati. But she could not be distracted from her goal. When Rajimati
came to know that Neminath had become an omniscient, she went to she Samavasaran of Neminath alongwith many of her
friends and took Diksha. She lost herself in penances and other spiritual practices and in the end got liberated.
Stories of a number of famous ascetic contemporaries of Bhagavan Arishtanemi are glittering gems in the heap of Jain
scriptures. Some more prominent names are child ascetic Gajasukumar, great ascetic Dhandhan Rishi, Thavaccha-putra
Shraman etc.
Bhagavan Arishtanemi got liberated, at the age of one thousand years, on the eighth day of the bright half of the month of
Ashadh.
A number of historians accept that Arishtanemi, the cousin of Shrikrishna, was a historical figure who greatly contributed
towards vegetarianism, compassion and Ahimsa. This is the point where Jain prehistory fuses with history.
23. BHAGAVAN PARSHVANATH
Bhagavan Parshvanath was born about 380 years before the Nirvana of Bhagavan Mahavir or in the 10 th century B.C.
Past-Incarnation
Like other Tirthankars, important events of earlier incarnations of the being that became Bhagavan Parshvanath are available
in Jain scriptures. Study of these incidents reveals that amnesty and compassion played a major part in his life and progress
toward purity of soul. In every incarnation his rival, Kamath, continued to torture him and he continued to forgive and forget.
Amar Muni - Tirthankar Charitra - Surana # 25
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