The Tirthankaras
Ayambil and the Plague of Dwarka
आयंबिल और द्वारका का संकट · આયંબિલ અને દ્વારકાનું સંકટ
A golden city, an angry sage, and the simple meal that kept it safe
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
Bhagwan Neminath foretells that the golden city of Dwarka will be destroyed by the anger of a sage. For years the people protect their city with fasting and Ayambil, until the day they decide the danger has passed.
What it teaches Anger Penance Steadfastness
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago there was a beautiful city by the sea called Dwarka. It had golden walls and shining palaces. Its king was Shri Krishna. The waves sang softly by its walls, and the people were happy.
One day Bhagwan Neminath said, A sage named Dvaipayan will become very angry, and his anger will harm Dwarka. Krishna was worried. He wanted to keep his city safe.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Goodness is a wall that stands only as long as we keep building it.
To talk about together
Why do you think the people of Dwarka stopped their fasting, and what could have helped them keep going?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.