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Glimpses of Hisotry of Jains/52
Ichain of past accumulated sins; and therefore I may realise your potential, don't let it lie dormant."
In the very first rain-stay at Asthigrām (of his 42 rain stay of his ascetic life) he took up challenge to test his soul force, through means of utter fearlessness and nonviolence. It came from Yaksha-Shoolpani, (a demi-God turned violent through hellbent hatred of persons of the ill fated village Asthigram). The legend is that poor bullock was subject to grave cruelty first by the greedy trader harnessing it in bullock-cart heavily laden with goods, wading through a torrental river. The ox was almost broken, left in the village to be looked after by the villagers against the maintenance given by the trader. Through sheer callous neglect and misappropriation of maintenance, the ox died decrepit, turning into Yakhsha Shoolpani, in next birth who rained pestilence, famine, disease and death on the village and turned it into a heap of bones. Mahaveer was subjected to all torments, stings, and firey attacks but delivered Yaskha, from pangs of anger and retribution, ultimately.
His other four months stays were as under. ChampāPithi (3), Vaishali- Baniyagram (12), Ragriha & Nalanda (14), Mithila (6), Badidhitte (2), Albiya (1), Paniya Bhumi (1), Sravasti (1) and Pāvā (1). On being beaten by a cowherd for not getting his bullock, Indra appeared to protect him to whom Mahaveer said the path of selfrealisation seeks no dependence. It has been ever treaded alone and would always be so. He under took fastings (without any food whatsoever and may be many even without water) for 4166 days in a span of 121⁄2 years almost, leaving only 349 days, in following major spells.
