Monks and Acharyas
Siddhasen Diwakar
सिद्धसेन दिवाकर · સિદ્ધસેન દિવાકર
A proud scholar loses a debate to a song, and later sings a temple open
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
Kumudchandra was the proudest scholar in Ujjain, sure that no one could defeat him in debate. A simple meeting on a country road changed his life, but his cleverness would lead him into trouble once more before he found true humility.
What it teaches Pride and Humility Devotion Repentance
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago in the city of Ujjain lived a very clever man named Kumudchandra. He was so good at arguing that nobody could ever win against him. He said, "If anyone beats me, I will become their student!"
One day he met an old Jain monk on a country road. "Let us have a contest," said Kumudchandra. "These cowherds can be the judges." The monk agreed.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Truth does not need grand words; it needs a humble heart and clear, kind speech.
To talk about together
Why do you think the cowherds understood the old monk and not the clever scholar?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.