Monks and Acharyas
Bhavdev and Nagila
भवदेव और नागिला · ભવદેવ અને નાગિલા
A monk comes home to his bride, and she sends him back
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
- Shvetambar telling
A newly married young man becomes a monk almost by accident, and spends twelve years longing for his bride. When he finally returns to her, she has a lesson for him that will shape his soul for lives to come.
What it teaches Self-control True love Keeping vows
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in a little village, lived two brothers. The big brother, Bhavdatt, was a monk. The younger brother, Bhavdev, had just married a lovely bride named Nagila.
One day the big brother came to visit. When he left, Bhavdev carried his bowl for him, out of respect. He walked and walked, all the way to where the monks were staying. And there, so as not to upset his brother, Bhavdev became a monk too.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
True love wants what is best for the other person's soul.
To talk about together
Nagila could have kept Bhavdev with her, but she sent him back. Why was that a loving choice?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.