Shree Neminath Bhagwan: Birth to Nirvana of the Twenty-second Tirthankara

We went through the extraordinary eight-life karmic bond between Lord Neminath and Princess Rajul. Now, let us read the life story of Tirthankara Lord Neminath, who was born in the Yadava clan and was the cousin of Lord Krishna, the ninth Vasudeva of this time cycle.

Shree Neminath Bhagwan - Birth

On completing the lifespan in heaven, Neminath Bhagwan was conceived and born at King Samudravijay and Queen Shiva Devi’s place, located in the Bharatkshetra’s Shauryapur Nagri. Neminath Bhagwan was the son of the Yadav clan’s King Samudravijay. King Samudravijay was the eldest of the 10 brothers and King Vasudev, who was the father of Lord Krishna, was the youngest brother. Thus, Shree Krishna Bhagwan and Shree Neminath Bhagwan were first cousins.

Before the birth of Tirthankara Lord Neminath, Queen Shiva Devi had 14 dreams. The parents named Lord as Arishtnemi. In his family, all had a dark complexion. Lord Neminath and Shree Krishna Vasudev, too, had a dark complexion. Even today, in temples, Lord Neminath and Shree Krishna Bhagwan’s idols are black in colour.

Shree Neminath Bhagwan’s non-violent life

Right from birth, Lord Neminath was a lover of non-violence, compassionate and kind-hearted. During his childhood, once while playing, He landed up in the school of weaponry wherein He blew a big conch. Seeing this, everyone was stunned. Actually, no one but Vasudev could blow that conch but by blowing this conch at such a small age, Lord Neminath gave a tremendous proof of his power.

Being born as a prince in the Yadav clan, at the time of war, Lord Neminath also was required to join the war. Although Lord was tremendously skilful in using the bow and arrow, at the time of war, He never used that skill to kill anyone. He would rather break someone’s bow with His arrow, fling someone’s crown, aim his arrow at someone’s chariot, or simply fling off some people’s bow so that the opposition enemy becomes helpless. Thus, Lord Neminath fought the battle without causing any violence or hurting anyone.

His compassion and kindness were indeed unique. Being a Tirthankara, Lord Neminath’s strength was many times more than that of a Chakravarti and Vasudev. However, He used all his power in attaining the Self (Soul) and winning over kashays (internal enemies), not in winning over external enemies. One who has won over His kashays, who has won over the anger, pride, deceit and greed (kashays) is called an Arihant. All Tirthankaras are called Arihants. All Tirthankaras are Kshatriyas and extremely powerful. Only the one who can defeat external enemies can defeat own internal enemies.

Shree Neminath Bhagwan – Dispassion and Diksha

When Neminath Bhagwan grew young, His family had the desire to get Him married. However, from the beginning, Lord Neminath was detached; He was not interested in any worldly pleasures.

Once Lord Krishna’s eight queens took Nemi Kumar to a park. They entertained Nemi Kumar in every way. The queens were trying to convince Nemi Kumar for his marriage. However, Nemi Kumar did not say “Yes” or “No”; He just kept smiling. Seeing this shy gesture, the queens considered his silence as “Yes” for getting married. Thus, Lord Krishna and the other elders decided to get Him married to the younger sister of Queen Satyabhama, Princess Rajimati (Rajul), who was very pious and extremely beautiful.

King Ugrasen made pompous arrangements for his daughter Rajimiti’s wedding. Rajul, dressed as a bride, was anxiously waiting to get married. On the other hand, Arishtnemi, with a huge bridegroom's procession, was on the way for marriage. There suddenly, a cruel sound fell in the ears of Nemi Kumar. He could hear the sound of animals, crying and mourning aloud in fear, trying to save their lives. Listening to these horrible sounds, Arishtnemi’s compassionate heart was greatly moved. He couldn’t bear this; he asked the charioteer to stop the chariot and check why were the animals crying in fear.

The charioteer said that the sounds were of different animals. Hen, goat, cow, calves, deer and many others shall be killed and cooked to be served as food for the bridegroom’s procession. So much of violence because of Him; His heart reached out to the innocent animals who would be killed for no reason just for the sake of fun and frolic in marriage.

Nemi Kumar decided not to marry and He asked the charioteer to turn the chariot back. Seeing the chariot turn, the Ministers, Lord Shree Krishna, his Queens, King Ugrasen, King Samudravijay, Queen Shiva Devi and all His relatives tried to convince Him to return and marry. They set free all the animals, but Nemi Kumar was firm.

Tremendous dispassion had developed inside Him. He said to the people persuading Him to change His decision, “The animals have been set free, but now, I want to get free from the bondage of birth and death. I will never see this side now.” He firmly proceeded towards His home and the entire bridegroom’s procession returned home.

When Princess Rajimati got to know about all of this, she fell unconscious. When she regained consciousness, she could not stop her tears for months together. She was shocked.

Here, the Devas came down to meet Arishtnemi and requested Him to take Diksha. For a year, Prince Arishtnemi did varsidaan, and thereafter, took Diksha. Many other Shravaks and Shravikas also took Diksha along with Him. Upon taking Diksha, the fourth type of Gnan, the Manahparyav Gnan, manifested in the Lord.

Lord Neminath’s elder brother, Rathnemi, felt very bad for Rajul. To console her, he began sending her gifts at short intervals. He had started liking her; but Rajul had no such feelings for him. Rajul was in a state of pain and shock due to her separation from Arishtnemi. Hence, she did not understand the intentions of Rathnemi. She would just put aside the gifts received from him. However, Prince Rathnemi misunderstood that even she has started liking him as she accepted all the gifts. Thinking so, he went to her palace and proposed to her. Rajul asked him to come later.

The next day, when Prince Rathnemi came to meet her, she had drunk a lot of milk. As soon as Rathnemi entered, she vomited into a plate and asked Rathnemi to drink what she had spewed. Rathnemi was puzzled and he said, “How can I drink this?”

Rajul explained, “Likewise, I, too, am engaged to Arishtnemi. Then, how can you marry me? In my mind, Arishtnemi only is my husband. Other than Him, no one else can ever enter into my mind.” Listening to this, Rathnemi realized his mistake. He asked for her forgiveness and went away from there. With this, even Rathnemi and Rajul experienced dispassion and they decided to take Diksha.

After Diksha, both went on their respective paths and were completing their unfolding karma.

Once it so happened that while Sadhvi Rajul was in vihaar (travelling barefoot) with the other Sadhvis, all of a sudden it started raining heavily. Everyone ran helter-skelter in search of some shelter. Sadhvi Rajul too ran and got into a dark cave nearby. Due to darkness, she didn’t realize that Sadhu Rathnemi was already there in that cave.

Unaware that Rathnemi was around, Rajul Sadhvi started drying her clothes. Seeing this, lust arose in Rathnemi. He went up to Rajul and said, “Let’s leave this Diksha and enjoy our life together.”

So Sadhvi Rajul, in very strict words, said, “After taking Diksha, you are again talking about marriage?  What life form shall you and I get in the next birth then? Being a Kshatriya and also the elder brother of Lord Neminath, such cowardice? After taking Diksha, instead of attaining Moksha, how can you think of going the other way? You should not even think on these lines now.”

Listening to the sharp speech of Rajul Sadhvi, Sadhu Rathnemi had a lot of repentance in his heart. When he was about to slip, Rajul said such words which got him back. As soon as it was morning, Rathnemi went to Lord Neminath, confessed all his mistakes and washing off his mistakes, he became pure.

Neminath Bhagwan’s Brahmacharya (celibacy) was tremendous. Due to Him, both Rajul and Rathnemi also attained Brahmacharya. Of the 24 Tirthankaras, Lord Neminath and Lord Mallinath did not marry in their birth as a Tirthankara.

The meeting of two Vasudevas – a divine wonder

Lord Krishna Bhagwan was the paternal cousin of Lord Neminath Bhagwan, and Their family lineage was known as the dark complexioned clan. Lord Krishna was a Vasudev. Vasudevas are beings of immense power. The aura of influence and power of a Vasudev is such that He is the king of half the Earth. In the Jain scriptures, one of the ten great wonders is attributed to Lord Krishna. During the time of Lord Krishna, the abduction of Draupadi took place. At that time, Naarad Muni described Draupadi’s beauty before King Padmanabh of Bharat Kshetra of the Ghataki Khand Dweep. Upon hearing this description, King Padmanabh became infatuated with Draupadi and resolved to have her abducted. King Padmanabh, through his penance, sought the help of a celestial being to abduct Draupadi and demanded that she marry him. However, Draupadi, being a Sati, refused under any circumstances. She requested the king for a month’s time. During that month, Draupadi engaged in deep devotion, worship, and fasting, constantly remembering Shree Krishna Bhagwan. She also prayed earnestly to the celestial beings to deliver her from this crisis.

The Earth on which we live is known as Bharat Kshetra of the Jambudweep, and there is another Bharat Kshetra located in the Ghatki Khand Dweep. In total, there are five Bharat Kshetras, five Mahavideh Kshetras, and five Airavat Kshetras.

According to the law of nature, it is not possible to travel in the physical body from one Earth to another; yet, Lord Krishna Bhagwan was able to do so. He went physically to the Bharat Kshetra of the Ghatki Khand Dweep, fought a battle with King Padmanabh, and brought Draupadi back. During the battle, when Lord Krishna blew His conch, at that very moment, Vasudev Kapil, the king of Bharat Kshetra in Ghatki Khand, was seated in the assembly of the Tirthankara of that same region. Upon hearing the sound of Lord Krishna Vasudev’s conch, he immediately asked the Tirthankara, “How is this possible? Who else could blow a conch like mine? According to the law of nature, in one region, there can be only one Vasudev, one Tirthankara, and one Chakravarti. Never do two Vasudevas, two Tirthankaras, or two Chakravartis exist together. So how could this possibly happen?”

Then the Tirthankara replied, “This is an exception. Vasudev Lord Krishna has come. With His immense power, He has defeated King Padmanabh in battle and blown His conch during the war.” Hearing this, Vasudev Kapil felt a deep desire to meet Lord Krishna, and the Tirthankara also granted him permission to do so.

By the time Vasudev Kapil set out to meet Lord Krishna, Lord Krishna had already travelled far ahead with Draupadi. It was impossible for Vasudev Kapil to cross that region. So, he too blew his conch and communicated with Lord Krishna through it. What an extraordinary conch that must have been! Through the conch, one can communicate with a clear voice, just like a telephone.

Through the conch, Vasudev Kapil said to Shri Krishna Bhagwan, “I wish to meet You. I am delighted to know that You had come here, I never realized it.” Shri Krishna Bhagwan replied through the conch, “I have already travelled far ahead. Returning now would be difficult and would require great effort and time. So, let us meet through the conch itself.” Thus, after this divine exchange, Shri Krishna Bhagwan returned to Bharat Kshetra with Draupadi.

This is regarded as one of the great wonders of the spiritual world that in the same era, two Vasudevas met within the same region through the medium of their conch shells. From this, we gain a deeper glimpse into the immense power of Lord Krishna and come to know many lesser-known aspects of His life.

The equanimity of Gajasu Kumar

During the time of Lord Neminath, there was Gajasu Kumar Muni, and an extraordinary event occurred related to his attainment of Keval Gnan. Gajasu Kumar was one of the eight brothers of Lord Krishna and was very dear to Him. He was exceptionally handsome, and upon reaching youth, Gajasu Kumar was married. He was married to a princess and to Soma, the daughter of a Brahmin named Somadatta. Gajasu Kumar, however, was a renunciant by nature from birth, yet, being deeply loved by all his brothers and by Mother Devaki, he was persuaded into marriage under their affectionate pressure. He was completely detached from worldly life and had no interest in it whatsoever.

Living in detachment from the world, Gajasu Kumar once went to Lord Neminath along with His two wives and accepted Diksha from Him. The next day, after taking Diksha, he went to a cremation ground to meditate upon the Soul. He went there simply to find solitude for his spiritual practice, and not for any kind of adverse or black magic practice.

While Gajasu Kumar was meditating on the Soul in the cremation ground, his father-in-law happened to pass by. Seeing him, the father-in-law became extremely angry. He thought that Gajasu Kumar abandoned my daughter and left her alone! In a fit of rage, he made a clay bund on Gajasu Kumar’s head and filled it with the burning embers from a funeral pyre.

At that moment, Gajasu Kumar thought, “My father-in-law has crowned me with the turban of liberation.” Even at such a time, Gajasu Kumar did not waver from his meditation on the Soul; he saw his father-in-law as completely flawless. For any ordinary person, having such blazing embers placed upon the head would cause unbearable pain, but Gajasu Kumar endured that suffering with equanimity and remained absorbed in his state of absolute Knowledge.

While absorbed in the meditation of the Soul, Gajasu Kumar ascended the stages of spiritual realization and attained Keval Gnan. The state of Keval Gnan is a state detached completely from the body. The Soul has never, even for a moment, become one with the body. It is forever avyabadh (a form that can neither hurt nor be hurt). The body may experience pain and suffering, yet none of it can ever touch the Soul. Gajasu Kumar experienced this beautiful Keval Gnan and avyabadh nature of the Soul, and thus, he attained Moksha.

The Tirthankaras and the Gnanis have experienced this state of Keval Gnan. We too can experience it and that alone is the true way to the ultimate liberation!

Shree Neminath Bhagwan – Keval Gnan and Nirvana

After taking Diksha, 54 days later, Neminath Bhagwan attained Keval Gnan! The celestial Gods created the Samovasaran for Him. He had 11 Ganadhars (chief disciples of a Tirthankara), out of which three Ganadhars were throughout with the Lord since the past nine lives, either as friends, brothers or ministers.

Lord Neminath lived for 1000 years. He took Diksha at the age of 300 years and spent 70% of His lifetime for the salvation of the world. He attained Nirvana from the Girnar Mountain.