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Monks and Acharyas

Monks, nuns and acharyas who left everything and found what could not be lost.

75 stories, each with a gentle children's telling and the full story.

Aimutta Muniअईमुत्ता मुनि · અઈમુત્તા મુનિThe little monk who sailed his bowl like a boat5 min · children's telling Sage Nandishenनंदीषेण मुनि · નંદીષેણ મુનિThe monk whose kindness even the gods came down to test4 min · children's telling From Robbery to Kevalgnanलूट से केवलज्ञान तक · લૂંટથી કેવળજ્ઞાન સુધીThe fiercest robber of his age, and the gentlest six months of his life5 min · children's telling Vajrakumarवज्रकुमार · વજ્રકુમારThe baby who cried his way to the monk's bowl4 min · children's telling Acharya Hemachandraआचार्य हेमचंद्र · આચાર્ય હેમચંદ્રThe bright boy from Dhandhuka who became the all-knower of a dark age5 min · children's telling Jambu Swamiजंबूस्वामी · જંબૂસ્વામીThe wedding night that turned a thief into a monk4 min · children's telling Story of Kalakacharyaकालकाचार्य की कथा · કાલકાચાર્યની કથાA prince turned monk, a sister in danger, and help from beyond the Indus4 min · children's telling Nami Rajarshiनमि राजर्षि · નમિ રાજર્ષિThe king who found peace in the sound of a single bangle4 min · children's telling Kapil Muniकपिल मुनि · કપિલ મુનિTwo grams of gold, and the wish that would not stop growing4 min · children's telling Anathimuniअनाथी मुनि · અનાથી મુનિThe young monk who told a king that he, too, had no protector4 min · children's telling Prasannachandra Rajarshiप्रसन्नचंद्र राजर्षि · પ્રસન્નચંદ્ર રાજર્ષિThe monk who stood perfectly still while a war raged in his mind4 min · children's telling Muni Kulvalukमुनि कुलवालुक · મુનિ કુલવાલુકGreat penance without humility, and the city that fell because of it4 min · children's telling Equanimity in Distressसंकट में समता · સંકટમાં સમતાThe young monk who stayed at peace through the hardest night of his life5 min · children's telling Chilatiputraचिलातीपुत्र · ચિલાતીપુત્રThree words from a monk, and a heart that finally turned4 min · children's telling Ilachikumarइलाचीकुमार · ઇલાચીકુમારEnlightenment on a tightrope4 min · children's telling Acharya Sthulibhadraआचार्य स्थूलिभद्र · આચાર્ય સ્થૂલિભદ્રThe monk who returned to the house he once could not leave5 min · children's telling Monk Metaryaमेतार्य मुनि · મેતાર્ય મુનિThe monk who kept silent to save a bird4 min · children's telling Ganadhar Sudharma Swamiगणधर सुधर्मा स्वामी · ગણધર સુધર્મા સ્વામીThe great scholar who asked one question, and became the voice that carried Mahavir's words5 min · children's telling Acharya Kundakundaआचार्य कुंदकुंद · આચાર્ય કુંદકુંદA cowherd boy who cared for an old book, and the great teacher he became5 min · children's telling Acharya Haribhadra Suriआचार्य हरिभद्र सूरि · આચાર્ય હરિભદ્રસૂરિThe proudest scholar in Chittor, humbled by one verse from a nun5 min · children's telling Kshapak Muni and Harsh Wordsक्षपक मुनि और कठोर वचन · ક્ષપક મુનિ અને કઠોર વચનWhy the goddess could not tell the monk from the man who hit him4 min · children's telling Annikaputra Acharyaअर्णिकापुत्र आचार्य · અર્ણિકાપુત્ર આચાર્યThe teacher whose last thought, in the middle of the river, was for others4 min · children's telling Arjun Maliअर्जुन माली · અર્જુન માળીThe gardener lost to rage, and the merchant who walked out to meet him4 min · children's telling Avanti Sukumalअवंती सुकुमाल · અવંતી સુકુમાલThe softest-footed boy in Ujjain, and the one night he stood like a mountain4 min · children's telling Shramanbhadra Muni and the Mosquitoesश्रमणभद्र मुनि और मच्छर · શ્રમણભદ્ર મુનિ અને મચ્છરA prince turned monk, a night of a thousand stings, and not one creature harmed4 min · children's telling Dhanna Anagar of Kakandiकाकंदी के धन्ना अणगार · કાકંદીના ધન્ના અણગારWhen King Shrenik asked who was the greatest of fourteen thousand monks4 min · children's telling Dharmaruchi Muni and the Bitter Gourdधर्मरुचि मुनि और कड़वी तुंबी · ધર્મરુચિ મુનિ અને કડવી તુંબડીOne bowl of poison, a line of ants, and the monk who chose to save them4 min · children's telling King Dvimukhराजा द्विमुख · રાજા દ્વિમુખThe festival pole that everyone worshipped, and where it lay a few days later4 min · children's telling Harishen the Monkहरिषेण मुनि · હરિષેણ મુનિAn emperor who had everything, and one quiet thought that changed it all4 min · children's telling Jinadev Muniजिनदेव मुनि · જિનદેવ મુનિA sick boy, a doctor's hard advice, and a promise he would not break4 min · children's telling Hastimitra and Hungerहस्तिमित्र और भूख · હસ્તિમિત્ર અને ભૂખA father and son alone in a forest, and a banyan tree that shared its food5 min · children's telling Kshullak Muniक्षुल्लक मुनि · ક્ષુલ્લક મુનિForty eight years a monk, one night of doubt, and a song at dawn5 min · children's telling Kurgadu Muniकूरगडु मुनि · કૂરગડુ મુનિThe monk who could not fast4 min · children's telling Munisuvrat and Greedमुनि सुव्रत और लोभ · મુનિ સુવ્રત અને લોભA young monk, a sweet he could not stop thinking about, and a kind question at midnight4 min · children's telling Karudatta MaharshiA monk who stood as still as a mountain, whatever came4 min · children's telling The Fortune-Telling Monkनिमित्त कथक मुनि · નિમિત્ત કથક મુનિA kind answer to a worried wife, and why it went so wrong4 min Pruthvichandra and Gunasagarपृथ्वीचंद्र और गुणसागर · પૃથ્વીચંદ્ર અને ગુણસાગરTwo princes of the heart who found perfect knowledge without leaving their seats5 min · children's telling Kalakacharya and King Dattaकालकाचार्य और राजा दत्त · કાલકાચાર્ય અને રાજા દત્તA proud king asked a monk a dangerous question, and the monk would not tell a lie to save himself4 min · children's telling Shamintra MuniFour shepherd boys helped a lost monk with a little water, and that kindness travelled with them across many lives4 min · children's telling Shitalacharyaशीतलाचार्य · શીતલાચાર્યA great teacher bowed to his young nephews in anger, and then bowed again with his whole heart4 min · children's telling Four Monks in the Coldठंड में चार मुनि · ઠંડીમાં ચાર મુનિFour old friends made one promise together, and kept it through the coldest night of winter4 min · children's telling Sukoshal Muni and the Tigressसुकोशल मुनि और बाघिन · સુકોશલ મુનિ અને વાઘણA mother tried to hold on to her son so tightly that she lost him, and found him again in a strange and sorrowful way4 min · children's telling Chandrudracharya's Discipleचंडरुद्राचार्य का शिष्य · ચંડરુદ્રાચાર્યનો શિષ્યA young man asked for initiation as a joke, and kept his word all the same5 min · children's telling Suvrat Muniसुव्रत मुनि · સુવ્રત મુનિThe king of the gods praised a young monk, and some gods came down to see whether he could really not be moved4 min · children's telling Bhadra Maharshi and the Grassभद्र महर्षि और घास · ભદ્ર મહર્ષિ અને ઘાસSoldiers mistook a silent monk for a spy, and his silence held no anger at all4 min · children's telling Dhanasharma Muni and Thirstधनशर्मा मुनि और प्यास · ધનશર્મા મુનિ અને તરસA thirsty young monk held river water in his hands, and thought of the tiny lives inside it5 min · children's telling Arhannak Muni and the Heatअर्हन्नक मुनि और गर्मी · અર્હન્નક મુનિ અને ગરમીA young monk ran from the summer sun, and his mother's voice brought him home5 min · children's telling Sage Kapil's Songकपिल मुनि का गीत · કપિલ મુનિનું ગીતFive hundred thieves ask a monk to dance, and his song changes them forever4 min · children's telling Rajimati Teaches Rathanemiराजीमती का रथनेमि को उपदेश · રાજીમતીનો રથનેમિને ઉપદેશOn a stormy day on the holy mountain, a nun's calm words bring a wandering monk home to himself4 min · children's telling Gajsukumal Muniगजसुकुमाल मुनि · ગજસુકુમાલ મુનિSix monks at the door, a mother's secret longing, and the little brother Krishna loved most5 min · children's telling Thavachaputraथावच्चापुत्र · થાવચ્ચાપુત્રA boy hears singing from the house next door, and a question begins that even Krishna cannot answer5 min · children's telling Karakandu the Pratyekabuddhaकरकंडु प्रत्येकबुद्ध · કરકંડુ પ્રત્યેકબુદ્ધA king, a beloved bull, and the day he saw that everything changes5 min · children's telling King Naggatiराजा नग्गति · રાજા નગ્ગતિA mango tree in full bloom, and a king who looked at it twice4 min · children's telling Bhadrabahu Swamiभद्रबाहु स्वामी · ભદ્રબાહુ સ્વામીThe last keeper of all the scriptures leads twelve thousand monks to the south5 min · children's telling Sthulibhadra's Sistersस्थूलिभद्र की बहनें · સ્થૂલિભદ્રની બહેનોSeven sisters with wonderful memories, and the one who travelled to a living Tirthankar5 min · children's telling Vajraswamiवज्रस्वामी · વજ્રસ્વામીThe young monk the gods could not fool, who carried a whole town through the sky4 min · children's telling Arya Rakshitआर्य रक्षित · આર્ય રક્ષિતA scholar comes home in glory, and his mother asks for something more5 min · children's telling Siddhasen Diwakarसिद्धसेन दिवाकर · સિદ્ધસેન દિવાકરA proud scholar loses a debate to a song, and later sings a temple open4 min · children's telling Manatunga and the Bhaktamarमानतुंग और भक्तामर · માનતુંગ અને ભક્તામરLocked behind forty eight locks, a monk sings, and one by one they open4 min · children's telling Samantabhadraसमंतभद्र · સમંતભદ્રA monk with a hunger no food could fill, and a hymn that opened stone4 min · children's telling Pujyapad and Akalankअकलंक और निकलंक · અકલંક અને નિકલંકTwo brothers, a secret school, and a promise to keep the light of knowledge burning5 min · children's telling Hiravijaysuri and Akbarहीरविजयसूरि और अकबर · હીરવિજયસૂરિ અને અકબરA barefoot monk walks hundreds of miles to speak to an emperor about kindness4 min · children's telling Yashovijayjiयशोविजयजी · યશોવિજયજીA boy who learned by listening grows into a great scholar who studied in secret at Kashi4 min · children's telling Anandghanjiआनंदघनजी · આનંદઘનજીA wandering monk who owned nothing and sang songs that are still sung today4 min · children's telling Pundarik Swamiपुंडरीक स्वामी · પુંડરીક સ્વામીThe first disciple of the first Tirthankar, and the full moon night when he became free4 min · children's telling Pundarik and Kandarikपुंडरीक और कंडरीक · પુંડરીક અને કંડરીકTwo brothers, two choices, and the last few days that mattered most4 min · children's telling Valkalchiriवल्कलचीरी · વલ્કલચીરીThe forest boy who found his true self while cleaning his father's bowls4 min · children's telling Ashadhabhutiआषाढ़भूति · અષાઢાભૂતિThe monk who became an actor, and the play that brought him home5 min · children's telling Skandak Acharya and His Disciplesस्कंदक आचार्य और उनके शिष्य · સ્કંદક આચાર્ય અને તેમના શિષ્યોFive hundred monks who kept their peace, and one moment of anger5 min Damdant Muniदमदंत मुनि · દમદંત મુનિFlowers from some, stones from others, and the same calm smile for both4 min · children's telling Bhavdev and Nagilaभवदेव और नागिला · ભવદેવ અને નાગિલાA monk comes home to his bride, and she sends him back4 min · children's telling Prabhav Swamiप्रभव स्वामी · પ્રભવ સ્વામીThe robber who came to steal a treasure, and stayed to guard a greater one4 min · children's telling Shayyambhav and Manakशय्यंभव और मनक · શય્યંભવ અને મનકA father writes a little book for a son who has very little time4 min · children's telling Ratnakarsuri's Twenty-Five Versesरत्नाकर पच्चीसी · રત્નાકર પચ્ચીસીA ghee seller asks the same question for six months, and a great teacher finally hears it4 min · children's telling Siddharaj and Hemchandra's Grammarसिद्धराज और सिद्धहेम व्याकरण · સિદ્ધરાજ અને સિદ્ધહેમ વ્યાકરણA king's wounded pride, a monk's patient pen, and a book that rode on an elephant4 min · children's telling