Monks and Acharyas
Avanti Sukumal
अवंती सुकुमाल · અવંતી સુકુમાલ
The softest-footed boy in Ujjain, and the one night he stood like a mountain
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
- Shvetambar telling
A young man raised in great luxury in Ujjain hears monks reciting at night and remembers a heaven he once lived in. He chooses a single night of perfect courage.
What it teaches Renunciation Equanimity Courage
The opening of the children's telling
In the city of Ujjain lived a young man named Avanti Sukumal. He lived in a tall house with soft carpets. His feet were very soft, because he hardly ever walked on the ground. He had everything he wanted, and many people looked after him.
One night some monks were staying in his house. They began to say a beautiful prayer about a heaven called Nalinigulm. Avanti Sukumal listened from his room at the top of the house.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Courage is not a hard body but a calm mind that stays steady when things hurt.
To talk about together
Avanti Sukumal was not used to hardship, yet he was brave. Where do you think his courage came from?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.