Shree Neminath Bhagwan: Past Lives of the Twenty-second Tirthankara

Lord Neminath and Rajul had remained together as husband and wife in every single lifetime for the past eight lifetimes. The birth of a human being occurs according to their karma. But, Lord Neminath and Rajul had never seen a single fault of each other; their love was the same throughout. Due to this reason, since last eight births, they were reincarnating as husband and wife. Let’s read about the exceptional karmic bond between Nem and Rajul.

First Birth – King Dhanpati and Queen Dhanvati, Second Birth – Heaven

Tirthankara Shree Neminath Bhagwan’s first birth was as King Dhanpati. When King Dhanpati was in the womb of his mother, his mother had a dream. In that dream, she saw only one mango tree planted at nine different places. When the mother enquired regarding the purpose and the result of her dream, she was told that it conveyed that the next nine births of the child that was in her womb will be each better than the previous one, and he would be born as a majestic man.

Prince Dhanpati, in his youth, was extremely good looking and brave. On the other side, Rajul, in her first birth, was a beautiful and smart princess by the name Dhanvati. For Princess Dhanvati’s father, it was a tough job choosing a groom suitable for his daughter.

One day, Princess Dhanvati had been to a garden with her friends. There, she saw a painter painting a picture of a very handsome guy. Looking at the picture, Princess Dhanvati was stunned and she instantly fell in love. When she asked the painter regarding the person in the picture, the painter informed that it was the picture of Prince Dhanpati, who in reality, looked even more handsome than in the picture.

Princess Dhanvati immediately decided to marry him. Fortunately, the father of Prince Dhanpati and the father of Princess Dhanvati happened to be friends. Both the kings fixed the engagement of their children, and finally, both got married.

Once an ailing Monk came to Prince Dhanpati’s kingdom and fell unconscious; he was very ill. Prince Dhanpati and Princess Dhanvati took great care of him. Later, upon handing over the throne to Prince Dhanpati, his father took Diksha from the Monk.

After some years, the same Monk came again to King Dhanpati’s kingdom. This time, King Dhanpati and Queen Dhanvati also took Diksha from him; and practicing devotional worship, they completed their life. 

In the next birth, Lord Neminath and Rajul took birth as a Dev and a Devi, respectively. Even there, the two passed good time with each other.

Third Birth – Vidyadhar Chitragati and Princess Ratnavati, Fourth Birth – Heaven

In the third birth, Neminath Bhagwan took birth as Vidyadhar Chitragati and Rajul as Princess Ratnavati. Princess Ratnavati was extremely beautiful and intelligent.

When Ratnavati was born, her father had asked a Muni Maharaj that to whom would my daughter be married to. Muni Maharaj had then given her father the following three indications; these three indications when seen together in one person, he alone would be said to be eligible to marry Ratnavati:

• One who will win lifting the extremely strong khadag (sword) owned by you,
• On whom while worshipping the Tirthankara Lords, flowers will be showered, and
• Seeing whom, your daughter shall immediately fall in love.

On the other hand, there was a Prince named Sumitra. Sumitra’s step-mother had given poison to Sumitra so that she could crown her own son. As a result, Prince Sumitra was in an unconscious state for a very long time. At that time, while passing by, Vidyadhar Chitragati could see a crowd of sad people. Vidyadhars have the skills and divine power of flying. With his knowledge, Chitragati treated the unconscious Prince Sumitra and made him well. Prince Sumitra and Vidyadhar Chitragati became close friends.

Once it so happened that the brother of Princess Ratnavati kidnapped the married sister of Prince Sumitra. On getting these news, Prince Sumitra was very upset and he called his friend Vidyadhar Chitragati for help. A fierce battle took place between Chitragati and Ratnavati’s brother and Chitragati won that battle.  

In the battle, Vidyadhar Chitragati snatched away Princess Ratnavati’s father’s khadag and saved Sumitra’s sister. This surprised the king and made him think that his khadag, which no one can lift, Chitragati lifted it without any fear, and also, he won the battle too.

On the other hand, Chitragati’s friend Prince Sumitra lost interest in this world and took Diksha. After taking Diksha, once while Sumitra Muni was engaged in worship, his step-brother saw him, and out of hatred, he hit Sumitra Muni with an arrow. However, no feeling of hatred arose in Muni Sumitra towards his step brother, and with the understanding that the hurt that the arrow caused was due to my own unfolding karma, he finished his karma with equanimity. Since he left his body in equanimity, he got the next birth in heaven. 

Upon hearing the news of his friend’s death, Vidyadhar Chitragati was heartbroken; he was in pain, and hence, went on a pilgrimage. He went to Jin temples, and with great faith, sung God’s hymns. Sumitra Muni, who was a celestial being in the heaven, was very pleased to see his best friend Vidyadhar Chitragati engrossed in Tirthankara God’s worship, and thus, showered flowers on him. Seeing all of this, it signalled to the father of Princess Ratnavati that two of the three indications given for her daughter’s marriage were fulfilled. So finally, he took his daughter Ratnavati to Vidyadhar Chitragati, and the moment Ratnavati saw him, she got attracted towards him at the first sight. Thereafter, Vidyadhar Chitragati and Princess Ratnavati’s marriage took place.

Chitragati ruled the kingdom very nicely for quite a long period. A few years later, both Vidyadhar Chitragati and Princess Ratnavati took Diksha. They passed their life doing great devotional worship.

The fourth birth of Lord Neminath and Rajul happened in heaven as a Dev and a Devi, respectively; there they spent time with each other for a long time.

Fifth Birth King Aparajit and Queen Pritimati, Sixth Birth – Heaven

The fifth birth of Neminath Bhagwan and Rajul was as King Aparajit and Queen Pritimati, respectively.

Queen Pritimati, when a princess, was so beautiful that every king wanted to marry her. A swayamvar ceremony was arranged for Princess Pritimati and all the kings were invited to this ceremony. The princess had decided that whoever would be able to give the right answers to her questions would be the one to whom she would marry.

Prince Aparajit, too, attended the swayamvar, but in disguise of an ugly person. While all other kings were unable to answer her questions, Prince Aparajit was the only one to give precise answers to all the questions and pass her each and every test. Thereafter, Princess Pritimati put the garland onto Kumar Aparajit.

However, the kings present there did not like this as they thought that Prince Aparajit looked very ugly. But just then, Prince Aparajit revealed his true looks, seeing which all kings were amazed. Later, Prince Aparajit fought with all kings, attained victory and got married to Pritimati. After few years, King Aparajit and Queen Pritimati took Diksha and passed the rest of their life.

In the sixth birth, Lord Neminath and Rajul took birth as a Dev and a Devi, respectively and passed long life together.

Seventh Birth – King Shankh and Queen Yashomati, Eighth Birth – Heaven

The seventh birth of Lord Neminath and Rajul took place as King Shankh and Queen Yashomati, respectively.

Once when Prince Shankh went out with his friends, they got far away from the kingdom. When it was about to become night, they took a stay at one place. Just then, suddenly, Shankh Kumar heard a loud mourning sound of a woman. Upon enquiry, he came to know that the voice was of an old woman. Prince Shankh Kumar asked that woman the reason why she was crying. Upon checking, he came to know that along with that old woman was also a Princess named Yashomati, but someone had kidnapped the Princess. The kidnapper left saying that he would also marry the princess. The old woman sought help from the prince to bring princess Yashomati back.

Upon enquiring further, Prince Shankh came to know that Princess Yashomati was kidnapped through a Vidyadhar. Finally, Prince Shankh fought with the kidnapper and saved Princess Yashomati from the kidnapper. Princess Yashomati had decided earlier that she would marry the person whom she likes at the first sight. So, Princess Yashomati got married to Prince Shankh. After marriage, ruling over the kingdom for many long years, King Shankh and Queen Yashomati took Diksha.

Due to intense worship of God and worshipping Vees Sthanak, King Shankh happened to bind the most auspicious Tirthankara-naam-gotra karma!

In the eight birth, once again, Lord Neminath and Rajul took birth as a Dev and a Devi, respectively. There too, they both spent a long time together.

Let’s read about Lord Neminath’s ninth life in Bharat Kshetra and the extraordinary events through which He freed himself from the deluding snare of worldly life and the cycle of rebirth.