JAINISM

Shri Amarkumar

In the province of Rajgrahi, there was a king named Shrenik. The king longed to erect a building for
artists. Due to some bad omen, whenever he tried to build the main door, it always used to fall on
the ground. It never stood still. After several failures, the king eventually called pandits and saints.

The knowledge filled saints suggested him to sacrifice a boy possessing 32 virtues. Then he left in
search of one such boy. He then announced in the village that whosoever gave his boy for sacrifice,
would be rewarded with gold equal to boy’s weight.

In the same village, there was a Brahmin named Rishabhdas living with wife Bhadra and four sons.
There had no source of income and that paralysed the family with poverty. The head of the family
Rishabdas thought of giving away one of his sons in order to get rid of destitution.

Out of four sons, Amarkumar was not loved and praised by his mother Bhadra. He once learnt
Namaskar Mantra from a Jain saint in a forest where he went to cut wood. Amarkumar prayed to his
parents ‘Please don’t kill me for money.’ He begged in front of his family, relatives and
acquaintances, but nobody gave heart to his feelings. Seeing nobody came to rescue, the king got
hold of him and gave away the gold to the poor.

Amar helplessly beseeched the king to show some compassion. King Shrenik felt mercy for the little
boy, but then he oppressed his heart saying it was not his fault. I had bought his boy; his parents did
a flaw, who sold his son for some kilograms of gold.
He finally felt that putting the boy in holy furnace is not a fault, after meeting the eyes with saints.

Saints instructed him, ‘don’t look into his eyes. Whatever you want do, do it swiftly. Sacrifice the boy
in the sacred fire.’

After a pious shower and embellishing his body with chandan and garlands, he was compelled to sit
in the sacred fire.

During that piercing time, he decided to chant the holy Navkar Mantra. In some time, the prayer
made with pious and pure heart showed its grades. The fire extinguished. Gods from good heaven
appeared and made him it on the throne. The king was hurled on the ground and blood started
oozing out of his mouth.

Seeing this miracle, all the Brahmins and ministers from the kingdom came and put their heads in
Amarkumar’s feet and wished to bring back the consciousness of the king. He sprinkled some water
on him saying Navkar Mantra. The king got back his consciousness. All in unison said, ‘For killing a
little boy, the king has been given punishment by karma.’

After standing on his feet, the king longed to give his province to charitable and good-hearted Shri
Amarkumar. He replied that the province was not he wished for, but he wants to take renunciation.
Everybody was shocked and yet pleased with the little boy’s desire to exile.

But when the parents heard of the entire incident, they feared that the king would snatch the gold
from them. So, they distributed it among themselves and also, cemented some in the land.
His mother, for her rivalry in previous life, couldn’t curl up in slumber and went to graveyard with a
weapon to kill him. Amarkumar was drifted in meditation. She went close to him and killed him.

Amarkumar, according to the Jain life cycle, ascended to twelfth heaven. After spending thousands
of years there, he took birth in Mahavideh and became an omniscient.

After Amar’s death, his mother was leaving the graveyard happily and there she caught a lioness.
Mother Bhadra was torn to death. After the heart-rending death, she went to the sixth hell and
living thousands of years in pain.

CHRISTIANITY

Genesis 22New International Version (NIV)

Abraham Tested

22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of
Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his
servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the
place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the
distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We
will worship and then we will come back to you.”

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself
carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his
father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the
two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged
the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he
reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to
him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear
God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and
took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place
The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

15 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by
myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your
only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their
enemies, 18 and through your offspring[b] all nations on earth will be blessed,[c] because you have
obeyed me.”

ISLAM

History of Bakra Eid

Festivals > Muslim Festivals > Bakra Eid > History of Bakra Eid

Eid is a festival of Muslims that is celebrated all over the world. Eid-ul-Adha is also known as the
festival of sacrifice and sacrifice feast. Eid- ul- Adha is celebrated on the tenth day of Dhuj Hijja, the
Islamic month according to the lunar Islamic calendar. Eid- ul- Adha accurs approximately seventy
days after the end of Ramadan month. The festival of Eid- ul- Adha is celebrated in the remembrance
of prophet Abraham’s readiness to forfeit Ishmael, his son for god. The story about this festival tells,
how Abraham was ready to kill his son and remained true to God. The story tells, how Allah told
Abraham, to lift up the foundation of Kaaba that was a holy place in Mecca.

God also asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, in a dream. Abraham along with his son started moving
towards Mina for the sacrifice. Some of the daemons tried to direct Abraham away from his way but
Abraham was true to god and as he was just set to kill his son, God stopped him and gave him a
sheep to sacrifice instead of sacrificing his son. This festival is thereby said to be a festival of
sacrifice. Some people celebrate Eid- ul- Adha because it ends the pilgrimage or Hajj for those
Muslims who make a trip to Mecca each year.

http://www.inspirenignite.com/eid-ul-adha-bakra-eid-and-its-real-message/

Eid ul Adha is celebrated in remembrance of sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham in Bible and
Tawrah) Alaihissalam.

“O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!” So We gave him the good news of a boy, possessing
forbearance (gentle). And when (his son) was old enough to walk and work with him, (Abraham)
said: O my dear son, I see in vision (dream) that I offer you in sacrifice: Now tell me what is your
view!” (The son) said: “O my father! Do what you are commanded; if Allah wills, you will find me one
practicing patience and steadfastness!” So when they both submitted and he (Abraham) threw him
down upon his forehead, We called out to him saying: O Ibraheem! You have indeed fulfilled the
vision (command); surely thus do We reward those who do good. Most surely this was a manifest
trial. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice. And We perpetuated (praise) to him
among the later generations. “Peace and salutation to Abraham!” Thus indeed do We reward those
who do right. Surely he was one of Our believing servants. Quran [37:100-111]
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/bakra-eid/significance-of-bakra-eid.html

What Is Eid al-Adha

The Holy Quran perfectly explains the significance of celebrating Eid al-Adha with such immense
splendor and grandeur. On the pretext of testing Prophet Ibrahim�s faith, God appeared in
Ibrahim�s dreams and asked him to sacrifice his most beloved possession. Ibrahim truly loved his
son, Ismail and hence, had no option but to sacrifice him. Thus, Ibrahim along with Ismail started
making their way up to the mount of Mina near Mecca. As it was impossible to see his son dying in
front of his eyes, Ibrahim blindfolded himself and raised the sharp sword. While reciting Allah�s
name, Ibrahim beheaded his son. He opened his eyes and was surprised at the sight.

To his surprise, his son Ismail was standing healthy nearby him and a dead ram was lying in a pool of
blood in front of him. As such, Ibrahim emerged as a winner in the eyes of God for his strong faith
and belief in the almighty. Thus, this day is celebrated as Eid al-Adha by the entire Muslim
community across the globe to honor Ibrahim�s complete obedience towards God. The day is
commemorated by slaughtering domestic animals, such as goat, sheep, lamb, camel, buffalo and so
on. This meat is divided into three parts. While the first is eaten by the family, the second is
distributed amongst relatives and the third part is given to the poor and needy.

This holy festival of Eid al-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijjah (twelfth
and last month) of the Hijri calendar followed by the Muslims. The celebrations are spread across
three days from the 10th to the 12th day. These celebrations begin after the completion of the Hajj,
the annual pilgrimage performed by Muslims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Hajj serves as one of the five
pillars of Islam. This means, a Muslim has to perform Hajj at least once during their lifetime, unless
they are debarred due to lack of finances or ill-health. This pilgrimage is performed to get rid of all
sins and become more obedient and spiritual towards God.

In Islam the place of Abraham’s sacrifice is held to be in Mina, just outside Mecca. The pillars at
Mina, which are stoned during the pilgrimage, symbolise the devil’s tempting of Abraham, 3 times,
to abandon the sacrifice.

JUDAISM

http://www.jewfaq.org/origins.htm

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, known as the Patriarchs, are both the physical and spiritual ancestors of
Judaism. They founded the religion now known as Judaism, and their descendants are the Jewish
people. The history below is derived from written Torah, Talmud, Midrash and other sources.

Abraham

According to Jewish tradition, Abraham was born under the name Abram in the city of Ur in
Babylonia in the year 1948 from Creation (circa 1800 BCE). He was the son of Terach, an idol
merchant, but from his early childhood, he questioned the faith of his father and sought the truth.
He came to believe that the entire universe was the work of a single Creator, and he began to teach
this belief to others.

Abram tried to convince his father, Terach, of the folly of idol worship. One day, when Abram was
left alone to mind the store, he took a hammer and smashed all of the idols except the largest one.
He placed the hammer in the hand of the largest idol. When his father returned and asked what
happened, Abram said, "The idols got into a fight, and the big one smashed all the other ones." His
father said, "Don't be ridiculous. These idols have no life or power. They can't do anything." Abram
replied, "Then why do you worship them?"

Eventually, the one true Creator that Abram had worshipped called to him, and made him an offer: if
Abram would leave his home and his family, then G-d would make him a great nation and bless him.
Abram accepted this offer, and the b'rit (covenant) between G-d and the Jewish people was
established. (Gen. 12).

Abram, raised as a city-dweller, adopted a nomadic lifestyle, traveling through what is now the land
of Israel for many years. God promised this land to Abram's descendants. But Abram was concerned,
because he had no children and he was growing old. Abram's beloved wife, Sarai, knew that she was
past child-bearing years, so she offered her maidservant, Hagar, as a wife to Abram. This was a
common practice in the region at the time. According to tradition, Hagar was a daughter of Pharaoh,
given to Abram during his travels in Egypt. She bore Abram a son, Ishmael, who, according to both
Muslim and Jewish tradition, is the ancestor of the Arabs. (Gen 16)

When Abram was 100 and Sarai 90, G-d promised Abram a son by Sarai. G-d changed Abram's name
to Abraham (father of many), and Sarai's to Sarah (from "my princess" to "princess"). Sarah bore
Abraham a son, Isaac (in Hebrew, Yitzchak), a name derived from the word "laughter," expressing
Abraham's joy at having a son in his old age. (Gen 17-18). Isaac was the ancestor of the Jewish
people.

Isaac

Isaac was the subject of the tenth and most difficult test of Abraham's faith: G-d commanded
Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. (Gen 22). This test is known in Jewish tradition as the
Akeidah (the Binding, a reference to the fact that Isaac was bound on the altar).

But this test is also an extraordinary demonstration of Isaac's own faith, because according to Jewish
tradition, Isaac knew that he was to be sacrificed, yet he did not resist, and was united with his
father in dedication.

At the last moment, G-d sent an angel to stop the sacrifice. It is interesting to note that child sacrifice
was a common practice in the region at the time. Thus, to people of the time, the surprising thing
about this story is not the fact that G-d asked Abraham to sacrifice his child, but that G-d stopped
him!

Judaism uses this story as evidence that G-d abhors human sacrifice. In fact, I have seen some
sources indicating that Abraham failed this test of faith because he did not refuse to sacrifice his
son! Judaism has always strongly opposed the practice of human sacrifice, commonplace in many
other cultures at that time and place.