1. 5/24/2012
STORY OF SATI RAJIMATI - JOURNEY FROM ETERNAL
JAIN LOVE TO EMANCIPATION
Inspiring Life of the great Sati Rajimati | Dr. T.K. Jain,
jain.tk@gmail.com

2. STORY OF SATI
RAJIMATI - JOURNEY
FROM ETERNAL LOVE
TO EMANCIPATION
BY :
DR. T.K. JAIN
PARAKH NIWAS
SHIVAKAMU VETERINARY HOSPITAL
ROAD
BIKANER 334001
MOBILE : 9414430763

3. I remember many stories out of the thousands of stories narrated
by my mother. One of these many stories is the story of Rajimati.
She is considered one of the 16 Sati in Jain traditions (Sati in Jain
tradition means the lady who leads the purest life and attains
salvation, there are stories of 16 ladies, who are considered Sati, it
has nothing to do with pyre). I wish that these stories should pass
on to the next generations and therefore I am writing these
stories.
In Jain Tradition, there were 24 Tirthankara in the present
civilization. The first was Adinath. The last one was Mahaveer.
Neminath was the 22nd Tirthankar. Tirthankar means a person
who establishes Tirtha (restablishment of religion and spirituality
after attaining salvation). Tirthankars not only attain salvation,
they enable thousands of others to attain salvation by spreading
knowledge and right practices. Neminath was cousin of Krishna
and Pandavs. His original name of Arishthnemi. He was younger to
Krishna. He was son of Samudravijay. Samudravijay and Vasudev
were real brothers. They were brothers of Kunti and Madri
(mothers of Pandavs). Krishna was son of Vasudev.
Arishthnemi was detached from the world from childhood.
Although, he had tremendous capabilities from childhood. He
could blow the Couch (Shankh), which others couldn’t even pick
up. He could easily pick up and use the weapons of Krishna, which
couldn’t be moved even by others. He powers and stamina were
beyond comparison. Krishna also appreciated his powers and was
apprehensive of his capabilities. Krishna was interested that he
should get married. However, Aristhnemi was not interested in
marriage. Krishna organized a party on the occasion of Holi and

4. asked his wives to motivate Arishthnemi for marriage through
some plays. Thus with clever plays, Krishna was able to take
consent of Arishthnemi for marriage.
Jain philosophy is based on the basic premise of Re-Birth. If you
don’t believe in this concept, you cannot understand the Jain
philosophy. There are stories of eight births prior to the birth as
Aristhnemi. In earlier lives Aristhnemi and Rajimati were
lifepartners or close friends.
In this life Rajimati was a beautiful young lady, daughter of king
Ugrasen. Aristhnemi was considered to be an appropriate groom
for Rajimati. The marriage was arranged. Prince Arithniemi was
bathed in Perfumed water; dressed in gorgeous garments, decked
up in all kinds of Jewellery and put upon an impressively
decorated elephant. The splendid procession started for wedding.
During the procession, on way to Rajimati’s place the prince saw
a number of birds and animals shut up in cages. There was piteous
look in their eyes. He felt disturbed. He asked why all these
animals and birds were shut in the cages. In his great
astonishment, he was told that they were taken to the palace for
wedding feast. He was now purterbed. Why such a lot of
bloodshed for a wedding? This moment was a turning point of his
life. He started thinking on the direction of life’s goals. He took a
major decision, got off the elephant and started to move towards
Mount Raivataka. Yes, he decided to renounce the world and
become a monk. His relatives and friends tried to convinece him,
but all in vain. His parents were extremely disappointed but they
couldn’t change his decision. There was a turmoil in the family of
Rajimati. It was an unbearable situation. Noone could think about

5. what to do. Rajimati also, on learning that Aristnemi had
discarded her and renounced the world, decided to become a
saint (nun). But Rathnemi, brother of Aristhnemi was also
attracted to the bewitching beauty; and offer ed to marry her,
instead of his brother. Rajimati was firm, she would not accept
anybody as a substitute of Aristhnemi, and she was firm to join a
religious order. Even then he persisted. Rajimati now thought to
teach him a lesson. She got some porridge made. She added some
Ghee and Honey in it in larger quantity. She gulped it and quickly
she vomited it out in a golden bowl. Then she asked Rathnemi to
eat it. Obviously, Rathnemi refused. Then she explained that
what Rathnemi was proposing to do was as good as eating a
vomit. What his bother Rathnemi has discarded, how he could
accept? Rathniemi now felt disgust for this world it self. He also
decided to become a monk and join the religious order. Rathnemi,
thus became a Jain monk.
Rajimati was the first lady saint under Lord Neminath. Once it so
happened that Rajimati alongwith other nuns were going to
Raivataka mountain to offer their worship to Aristnemi. On their
way they were caught in heavy torrent of rain. They all rushed to
find shelter. Rajimati could find a shelter in a cave, she thought
she should get her wet cloth, dry. She removed th e clothes from
her body and spread them out for drying. She never knew that
Muni Rathnemi was there in the cave. Rajimati thinking that she
was all alone in a cave, was drying her clothes in naked position.
Rathnemi could now look at her sharply shaped body, her smooth
skin and her charming complexion. He forgot that he was a Jain
monk. He forgot that Rajimati had already rejected him and was a

6. very devoted saint (nun). Rajimati sensed somebody’s presence
there and became very conscious. She covered her breasts with
her arms and she sat down to save the exposure below. Now
Rathnemi appeared openly. He explained that beautiful human
body is achieved after accumulation of merits of many lives. He
argued that it would be unfair not to enjoy the pleasure of body.
Rajimati was not only firm but very blunt too. She said that you
might be more handsome than God of love (Kamdev) or as
accomplished as Nalkuber, she does not care. She said that she
comes from a noble family of king Bhoj and Ugrasen, and he too
comes from famous
Ydava family. He
asked how dare he
can behave in
such a despicable
manner with a
woman? He advised
him to control his
sensual desires,
otherwise he would be uprooted like a tr ee hit by a storm. She
requested “Now control yourself. Your mind, your desires, your
sense organs. Be a master of yourself and save yourself from the
disgrace.” Rathinemi now realized his mistake. Now he was like
an elephant, brought under proper control. He swore to her,
never to waver from his path again. At last, Rajimati gained
Kevalgyan – the eternal knowledge.