Monks and Acharyas
Manatunga and the Bhaktamar
मानतुंग और भक्तामर · માનતુંગ અને ભક્તામર
Locked behind forty eight locks, a monk sings, and one by one they open
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
A king wants a Jain monk to perform a miracle at his court, and Acharya Manatunga refuses. Locked in a dark cell behind chain after chain, the monk does the only thing he wishes to do: he praises Bhagwan Rishabhdev.
What it teaches Devotion Patience Non-attachment
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, there was a gentle Jain monk named Manatunga. One day a king named Bhoja said, "Bring me a Jain monk. I want him to show me a magic trick!"
But Manatunga said kindly, "Monks do not do magic tricks to show off. We try to make our souls pure and peaceful." The king was cross. He had Manatunga locked in a dark room with chains, and forty eight locks on the doors.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Love and calm can open locks that anger never could.
To talk about together
Manatunga was locked up, but he did not get angry. What helped him stay so calm?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.