Baalmuni Aaimutta - Story
 

Once upon a time, there was a city named Polaspur. It was ruled by a King named Vijay. He was just and peace-loving. As a result, his subjects were happy and prosperous.

King Vijay was joyfully passing his days, months and years with beautiful Queen Shrimati.

One fine day, a palace maid delightfully came to the King and said ‘O great King ! I have good news for you. Queen Shrimati has given birth to a charming son.’

Alongwith the King and Queen, the entire city rejoiced. A grand celebration was held in honour of the newly born son. He was named Atimuktak (Aimutta).

One day 6 year old Atimuktak was playing with his fellow friends with a golden ball. Suddenly, he saw Guru Gautam Swami coming.

Atimuktak asked him, “Who are you ?
Why have you come here?”

Guru Gautam Swami replied, “O Prince Atimuktak !
We are Jain Saints. We have come to seek alms.”

Little Atimuktak got excited and spoke in his childish tone, “O ! Then, will you come to my house for alms ?
I will also give you alms.”

Gautam Swami agreed. Prince Atimuktak immediately stopped playing, caught Gautam Swami’s finger and led him to his house.

Queen Shrimati was glad on seeing Gautam Swami at her doorstep.

She requested him to accept freshly made Laddus in alms.
Prince Atimuktak was also enthusiastic. He picked up the plate full of Laddus and sweetly insisting, emptied the entire plate in Gautam Swami’s Patra.

This event of giving alms pleased little Atimuktak.

Eventually, Guru Gautam Swami began to depart after acquiring alms. Innocent Atimuktak started following him.

He curiously asked, “Where do you stay ?”

Guru Gautam Swami answered, “O Prince ! We stay with our Guru, the Guru of the entire Universe – Lord Mahavir Swami.”
“Oh ! You, too have a Guru ?”

Atimuktak continued, “I want to come with you and bow down in your  Guru’s holy feet.”

Gautam Swami said, “Alright come along.” He took the young prince with him.

All along the way, Atimuktak was lost in the thoughts of Lord Mahavir. If this saint seems so wise and intelligent, then his Guru must be wiser and more impactful.

Atimuktak reached Lord Mahavir's abode.

He was spellbound seeing Lord’s beauty, His knowledge, His prosperity and the divine atmosphere of the Samavasaran.

“I, too will become God.” The prince mentally decided and returned home.

Bowing down in the feet of father King Vijay and Queen Shrimati, he politely said,

“Mother ! Father ! Even I want to become like Guru Gautam Swami. I want to become like great Lord Mahavir Swami.”

“Son ! You are still young and delicate, Diksha is difficult. You will not understand its severity.” Queen Shrimati replied.

But young Atimuktak was adamant.
“I am ready for Diksha. I want to become Lord.”

Prince Atimuktak tried to convince his parents.

He exclaimed, “What I know, I do not know, what I don't know, that is what I really know.”

King Vijay said, “Dear son ! Speak clearly.”

Little but wise Atimuktak disclosed his deep thought. He stated, “Father !
I know that man has to die one day, but he does not know at what time,
in which place and how.” He continued saying, “And when I said that what I do not know, that is what I really know. I meant that I do not know that which karmas will lead a soul to low births in hell and algae but I surely know that only and only his own karmas and sins are responsible for his next birth.”

Atimuktak relentessly tried to convince his parents in many such ways. Finally King Vijay and Queen Shrimati approved his desire for Diksha. They gave him Diksha with great pomp and show.

6 year old Atimuktak danced with great enthusiasm when he was handed over the Rajoharan by Lord Mahavir.

Because of his innocence and mixing nature he won the hearts of all the monks around him. They also willingly taught him the principles and conducts of his new ascetic life.

(Atimuktak word means ‘Aimutta’ in Prakrit. Henceforth, we will indentify the Balmuni as Aimutta.)

One fine day, Balmuni Aimutta had gone near the forest areas with his elder fellow saints.

Monsoon had arrived. The first rains had already freshened the earth. Hence, there were puddles of water here and there.

Little children were making boats out of leaves and were sailing them in those water puddles. Seeing their boat sail, they were jumping, clapping and shouting “My boat is sailing, look !”

Balmuni Aimutta happened to pass by and saw this child's play. 6 year old Aimutta’s childhood came into action and he, too started playing with those kids. He placed his wooden vessel in the puddle of water. It started floating and Balmuni Aimutta danced with joy. Along with other kids, he, too started shouting,
“My boat is sailing. My boat is sailing. Yay !”

Suddenly, the other elderly saints' attention was drawn towards Aimutta. They explained to him, ‘O Balmuni ! Now you are a Jain Monk. Playing like this with children does not suit you. Lord Mahavir states that each drop of water has innumerable living creatures. He can see these living beings with the help of Kevalgyan. Hence, he has forbidden us to touch unfiltered, unboiled water because touching this water troubles
the innumerable living creatures residing in it. They eventually die and we are responsible for this sin. Hence, you should not play in this rain water.”

This scolding embarassed Balmuni Aimutta.

He immediately withdrew his wooden Patra form water and returned to Lord Mahavir with other saints.

Elderly saints told Lord Mahavir, “Lord ! He is a 6 year old small child. What will he understand about our ascetic life ? How will he understand the existence of minute living beings in earth and water ? Without understanding how will he save them ?”

Lord Mahavir calmly replied, “Do not insult and underestimate this Balmuni. He is going to
attain Kevalgyan before you.”

All the elder saints said, “Michchhami Dukkdam” and sought forgiveness of Aimutta.

Balmuni Aimutta became engrossed in the wide ocean of knowledge and completed his studies upto 11 Angas.

3 years later, when Balmuni Aimutta turned 9 years old, he saw several children sailing leaf boats in water.

Seeing this, he remembered his own incident.

“Arre ! At the age of 6, I commited such a great sin because of my ignorance !
I sailed my wooden Patra in those water puddles. I violated the lives of innumerable creatures in water...” This thoughts depressed him. He heartly regretted his act.

Mentally condemning his act, he came to Lord Mahavir and began stating his sin in front of him.

He started reciting “Iriyavahiya” sootra before him.
 

While doing so, when he uttered the word ‘Daga-Matti’ his intensity of regret increased.

He climbed onto a new elevation of meditation.
He started climbing the Kshapakshreni. All his ‘Ghati Karmas’ broke. Balmuni Aimutta attained Kevalgyan.

All the angels from heaven came to perform the Kevalgyan festival of Balmuni Aimutta. They showered fragrant flowers from the sky, played their Dundubhi. All the angels together said,

“May Balmuni Aimutta become victorious !”

“May Balmuni Aimutta become victorious !”

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O dear Children !’
 

You all perform many sins. But after performing those sins if you condemn your act, feel regretful, go to the Guru bhagwants and take an oath to never repeat such a sin, then surely, one day even you will attain Kevalgyan like Balmuni Aimutta.