________________
332]
[ Eleventh Chaturmasa in Vaishali
words he turned out God Sangama from the assembly of the
gods at once.
How lofty was the aim of asceticism of Lord Mahavira. He was never perplexed even in the midst of greatest calamities. He was never tempted by the luxuries of this world, nor was he ever moved with the feelings of anger, fear and hatred etc; he had got a strong will-power which remained steadfast under all circumstances and he placed the highest and the easiest ideals before this insincere world.
After Sangama had accepted his defeat and departed from that place, Lord Mahavira again went to the village Gokula, and there accepted pure food and water from the house of Gopika (Cowherdess) named Vatsa. Thus, after suffering all the Upasargas and the Parisha has, i. e. the Varions troubles and disturbances, that can agitate the mind of the greatest ascetics, hermits, and heroes in a moment, and overcoming them with the help of his own strong will-power, Lord Mahavira resumed his Vihara and left that place.
THE ELEVENTH CHATURMASA IN VAISHALI.
Leaving Pedhana, Lord Mahavira purified by his tours the soil of Alambhika, Shuetamvari, Shravesti and then, came to Vaishali. Here he accepts a course of penance extending over four months and passed his eleventh Chatúrmasa in the same city. There was a very religious man named Jina Datta, who lived in this city. With the change of time and fortune, he had lost all his property at that time, and was known as Jina-shreshthi (a ruined capitalist) for the same reason. One day he went to the garden where Lord Mahavira
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org