SHREE KUNTHUNATH BHAGWAN: LIFE STORIES OF THE SEVENTEENTH TIRTHANKARA

Shree Kunthunath Bhagwan was the 17^th Tirthankara and also the 6^th Chakravarti of the present time cycle. Like Shree Arnath Bhagwan and Shree Shantinath Bhagwan, He too had attained two statuses, one that of Tirthankara and the other of Chakravarti, in the same birth. Lord’s complexion was golden and His height measured 35 bows.

Lord Kunthunath’s symbol (laanchhan) is chhag. Gandharva Yaksh Dev and Bala Yakshini Devi are His Shaasan Dev and Shaashan Devi, respectively.

Come, let’s now read about the life story of Lord Kunthunath as a Tirthankara and His past two births.

Shree Kunthunath Bhagwan – Past Births

Lord Kunthunath’s third-last birth was as King Simhavah in Jambudweep’s Purva Videh Kshetra in the Aavart Vijay’s Khadgi Nagri. King Simhavah was a very powerful, skilful and a pious ruler. After ruling as a king for many years, he developed detachment towards the world, and hence, took Diksha. After taking Diksha, with true penance, doing the worship, he bound the Tirthankara-naam-gotra karma. After completing this life, he reincarnated as a celestial being.

Shree Kunthunath Bhagwan – Birth and Reign

After completing the lifespan as a celestial being, Lord Kunthunath’s birth took place at King Shur and Queen Shridevi’s place in the Bharat Kshetra’s Hastinapur Nagri. Queen Shridevi saw 14 dreams, which signified that from her womb, Tirthankara Bhagwan would be born. In her dream, the queen had seen a collection of huge gems called Kunthu. From that, Lord’s name was kept as Kunthunath.

After the Lord’s birth, through Devas, His Abhishek happened on the Meru Mountain. When Kunthunath Bhagwan grew young, His parents got Him married. Later, His father, King Shur, handed over the responsibility of the kingdom to the Lord and retired. As He had the status of a Chakravarti, Kunthunath Bhagwan was tremendously powerful. He won the war against many kings and attained victory over the entire world, and thus, became the leader of the entire Universe! The status of a Chakravarti King means an extremely courageous and strong state in the world. Kunthunath Bhagwan had attained this state because of His immense meritorious deeds.

Diksha and Keval Gnan

After ruling as a Chakravarti for some period, Lord Kunthunath renounced the throne and took Diksha. It is the greatness of the Lord that for attainment of bliss and salvation, He left his rule as a Chakravarti, and renouncing the world, He took Diksha.

The Gnanis and the Tirthankaras have a lot of keys regarding how to stay in the Soul forever; they, do not stay in the body consciousness at all. By staying in Self-consciousness, they do not bind a single karma. Completing every worldly responsibility, the Gnanis stay undefiled from within. When we come into Self-consciousness, we get freed from the body-consciousness and we experience freedom from every type of karma bondage. Therefore, Shrimad Rajchandraji has said in His Atma Siddhi Shastra:

“છૂટે દેહાધ્યાસ તો, નહીં કર્તા તું કર્મ;

નહીં ભોક્તા તું તેહનો, એ જ ધર્મનો મર્મ.”

meaning

“If body-consciousness leaves, then you are not the doer of karma;

You are not the sufferer of it either, that’s the crux of religion.”

After 16 years of Diksha, Shree Kunthunath Swami attained Keval Gnan. When Lord Kunthunath attained Keval Gnan, the celestial beings created Samovasaran, and being seated in the Samovasaran, the Lord gave beautiful Deshna to people. On listening to the Tirthankara’s speech flowing in the form of Deshna, a lot of people’s hearts changed; they attained Self-realization and took Diksha.

Deshna on Purification of Mind

Kunthunath Bhagwan had given a beautiful Deshna on the purification of mind. We can progress only if there is purity of mind, or else, if the mind is maligned, our progress stagnates.

The Gnanis have unique ways of purifying the mind. People try to concentrate their mind, but when the mind’s very nature is restless, then how can it remain still? If the mind is to be won over, then it will have to be identified first.

•  Know How Is a Human Mind Made!

  Because of ignorance, when the thoughts in mind overpower us, at that time, we should remain alert against them. The mind is in the form of knots (glands) and it is made up of tubers (tumours). Based on your past life’s knowledge and vision, the parmanus (the smallest, most indivisible and indestructible particle of inanimate matter) that have been charged—a collection of those charged parmanus happens around the Soul. Whose thoughts are more, know that the tuber regarding that matter is big.

  If, on some matter, more thoughts come, then it means that the tuber of that matter is very big. For instance, if all the day long, you keep getting thoughts of food, it means the tuber of eating is big. Similarly, when one keeps getting thoughts of earning money from anywhere and everywhere, then the tuber of greed is big. Our mind is made up of different tubers and the Soul is totally separate from it. Whenever tubers sprout, on our Soul, veil of ignorance spreads out and the awareness is lost.

  Till all parmanus do not finish, until then, tubers keep sprouting, and when tuber sprouts, thoughts crop up from them. Based on the thoughts (that come), you can recognize which tuber is inside you.

• Study the Mind, the Practical Way!

  We should do a study of our mind. Every day one hour, sit and make a note of the thoughts that arise within. Analyze what type of thoughts come the maximum. For one month, one should do such a type of practice, and thereafter, if we draw out a trial balance, we’ll realize which tuber is big inside us, like a tuber of greed, pride or lust.

  We can break tubers through various different ways. For instance, despite having enough money to live in peace for the entire life, if you keep getting thoughts of earning money in whatever way you can, then it means that inside, the tuber of greed is big. If you wish to cut this tuber of greed, then there are two ways to it:

• Donate money to people in large quantities.
• When we undergo an extraordinary loss, which is beyond our capacity, at that time, we ourselves become aware and make such a resolve that henceforth, I do not want to get trapped into extraordinary greed.

  Rather than incurring a loss and breaking the tuber of greed, if we donate in a good way and be free from the tuber of greed, then we will develop that much qualification for salvation.

  Another tuber is that of pride. When at the time of insult, we remain in equanimity, at that time, the tuber of pride is demolished. By protecting our pride, that tuber grows big.

  When we fear insults a lot, then know that the tuber of pride is definitely there inside. By learning to digest insults, the tuber of pride shall dissolve.

  The Tirthankara Lords cut each of these knots (of anger, pride, deceit, greed) and attained the state of Nirgranth (absolutely free from all tubers). Only a Nirgranth, a totally pure being, is deserving of attaining liberation.

Nirvaan

Kunthunath Bhagwan had 35 Ganadhars (chief disciples of a Tirthankara). When his Nirvana time approached near, He, along with thousands of Sadhus and Sadhvis, went on the Samet Shikharji Mountain, and from there, attained Moksha.