Monks and Acharyas
Dhanna Anagar of Kakandi
काकंदी के धन्ना अणगार · કાકંદીના ધન્ના અણગાર
When King Shrenik asked who was the greatest of fourteen thousand monks
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
- Shvetambar telling
A rich young man of Kakandi gives up everything and takes up the hardest vow a monk can keep. One day King Shrenik asks Mahavir a question, and the answer surprises everyone.
What it teaches Austerity Detachment Inner radiance
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in a town called Kakandi, lived a rich young man named Dhanna. He had a big house, lots of food, and everything he wanted. But Dhanna was not truly happy inside. He felt something was missing.
One day Bhagwan Mahavir came to Kakandi. Dhanna listened to him and felt something wonderful in his heart. "I want to be a monk," he said. His mother said yes, and Dhanna became a monk. Dhanna gave away his fine clothes and walked with the monks.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
True strength lies not in the body but in a will that stays steady and peaceful.
To talk about together
Mahavir chose Dhanna over even Gautam Swami for his tapas. What do you think made Dhanna's tapas so special?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.