Monks and Acharyas
Chandrudracharya's Disciple
चंडरुद्राचार्य का शिष्य · ચંડરુદ્રાચાર્યનો શિષ્ય
A young man asked for initiation as a joke, and kept his word all the same
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
A newly married young man in Ujjain teases a group of monks by asking to be initiated. He is sent to their teacher, Chandrudracharya, who is known for his fierce temper, and the joke turns into something real that changes both disciple and guru.
What it teaches Patience Keeping one's word Anger and forgiveness
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in the city of Ujjain, there was an old monk named Chandrudracharya. He was very wise, but he got cross very easily.
One day a young man came by, laughing with his friends. He had just been married. As a joke, he said to the old monk, "Please make me a monk too!" The old monk was not in the mood for jokes. "All right," he said, and he made the young man a monk right there.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Patience can teach even a teacher.
To talk about together
The young disciple did not get angry even when he was hurt. Who do you know who stays gentle when others are cross?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.