Parables of Wisdom
A Child Meets Mahavir's Teachings
एक बच्चे की महावीर से पहली मुलाकात · એક બાળકની મહાવીર સાથે પહેલી મુલાકાત
Why would a prince give away a whole palace? Neel wants to know
- 3 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
On Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, seven year old Neel in New Jersey asks his grandmother who the calm figure in the temple really is. Her answers puzzle him, until a small visitor in the bathroom gives him a chance to understand.
What it teaches Mahavir Ahimsa Curiosity
The opening of the children's telling
Neel was seven, and he lived far away in America. One spring day his whole family went to the temple for Mahavir's birthday. There was soft music, lots of flowers and a little decorated cradle. Neel held his grandmother's hand all the time.
Neel looked at the murti of Bhagwan Mahavir, sitting so calm and still. "Ba," he asked his grandmother, "who is he? He has no crown."
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Mahavir's greatest victory was over his own anger, and we can practise that victory in small ways every day.
To talk about together
What is one small way you could be gentle to a living being tomorrow?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.