to him in a vision and told the young Sushil to
become a monk. At age seven, he left his family
and village to live with a Jain monk, Sri Chotelal
Maharaj, who became his guru. In 1941, at age 15,
Sushil took initiation (DIKSHA) and became a monk
in the STHANAKVASI sect of Jainism.
Sushil pursued an academic career in classical
Indian and yogic philosophies, while experiencing
directly the topics he was studying. His abilities to
teach and share his experiences attracted disciples,
who recognized him as a source of wisdom, truth,
and understanding. He actively promoted peace
and harmony throughout India and worked to
establish a sense of universal brotherhood among
the country’s conflicting religious traditions.
In 1975 he began a controversial international
tour, which broke with the Jain tradition’s require-
ment that monks travel only by foot. He broke the
ancient restraint against traveling by plane in order
to share the Lord MAHAVIRA’s message of nonvio-
lence, peace, and oneness of all living beings.
His teaching of the Arhum Yoga system involves
mastery of the inner self through watchfulness
and direct perception. Arhum yoga includes the
eight limbs of PATANJALI’s yoga system, sound
vibration, healing, awakening of the KUNDALINI,
energy, holistic health, and the teachings of Jain-
ism. The main text he used was the Matrika Yidya
of the Namokar Mantra, a foremost mantra in the
Jain tradition.
Sushil presided over a number of world reli-
gion conferences and was director and president
of many organizations devoted to intercultural
and interreligious cooperation, world peace, uni-
versal brotherhood, animal and environmental
protection, and nonviolence. He was a founding
member of the VISHWA HINDU PARISHAD.
Sushil motivated the Sikh leader Tara Singh
to participate in dialogue with the Indian govern-
ment to solve the animosities that were threaten-
ing the state of Punjab.
He also founded many spiritual organizations,
including the World Fellowship of Religions in
1950, Vishwa Ahimsa Sangh in 1957, International
Jain Mission in 1978, Arhat Sangh in 1979, and the
World Jain Congress in 1981, and World Center of
Nonviolence. He died on April 22, 1994.
Sushil’s main ashram is Siddhachalam, in
Blairstown, New Jersey, established in 1983, the
first Jain pilgrimage site (tirtha) established out-
side India. Siddhachalam is a residential commu-
nity for monks, nuns, and laymen and laywomen,
as well as a retreat center. It serves as headquarters
for the International Jain Mission, the World Fel-
lowship of Religions, and the World Jain Con-
gress. The ashram is also a wildlife sanctuary.kumbhaka See PRANAYAMA.
Kumbhakarna
Kumbhakarna (He with karna, ears [as big as],
kumbha, pots) is a rakshasa, a demon, the brother
of Ravana (see DEMONIC BEINGS). He plays a part
in the RAMAYANA story and he is burned yearly
in effigy during the Ramlila celebration, when
the victory of Lord RAMA over the evil demons is
remembered.
The story goes that Kumbhakarna was a very
powerful demon, and naturally strong. Other
demons, rakshasas, acquired their powers as the
result of austerities and boons, but he alone had
the natural power to kill any god, man, or being.
Once Kumbakarna was besting INDRA, the king of
the gods himself, in battle. Indra, along with other
gods, RISHIS, and various beings went to BRAHMA to
ask for aid. Brahma cursed Kumbhakarna at that
moment, to sleep forever. Ravana, his brother,
pleaded with Brahma to soften his curse and
Brahma then cursed him to sleep for six months
at a time, after which he would voraciously eat for
one day, and then would go back to sleep again.
This curse was meant to hold him in control so
that he would not conquer all the worlds.
In the RAMAYANA, when the rakshasas have
begun their war with RAMA, Lakshmana, and the
monkeys, there is a rather humorous scene thatKumbhakarna 251 J