The Tirthankaras
Akshay Tritiya: The First Alms
अक्षय तृतीया: प्रथम दान · અક્ષય તૃતીયા: પ્રથમ દાન
Three dreams, one silent monk, and a gift of sweet juice that is still remembered
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
For more than a year the first monk of our age walks from door to door, and no one knows what to give him. In Hastinapur, a young prince has a strange dream the night before, and the next morning a memory wakes inside him.
What it teaches Generosity Patience Right giving
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, Rishabhdev became a monk. He walked from town to town, quiet and peaceful. A monk eats only a little simple food, given with love. But nobody knew this yet.
So people brought him big presents. Elephants! Jewels! Beautiful clothes! Rishabhdev smiled kindly and walked on. He did not need any of these things. Day after day he had no food. A whole year went by, and still he was patient and calm. Some people even felt sad and puzzled. Why does he not take our gifts? they wondered.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
The best gift is not the biggest one, but the right one, given with joy.
To talk about together
Why do you think Rishabhdev said no to the jewels but yes to a little juice?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.