Mahavira and his Teaching

SR No.: 008019
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: C C Shah, Rishabhdas Ranka, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti
Publication Year: 1977
Total Pages: 509
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Biography, Religion, & Principle
File Size: 12 MB

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K. R. CHANDRA birth place, Videhajātya as he was born in Videha country and Mahāvira since he tolerated patiently all hardships and calamities.
All the princely comforts were at his disposal but Mahavīra did not like to lead worldly life. His soul was hankering after higher truth. As he did not like to cause slightest grief to his parents, he decided to leave the household after their death. But his elders did not allow him to renounce the world on such a sad occasion. For two years he led a celibate and pious life. With compassion he offered gifts to the poor and needy. At the age of thirty he renounced the world and became a monk.
His career for the next twelve years was of hard penances. He observed fasts of various durations ranging from two days to six months. The total period of his food-taking during these twelve years was hardly one year. While accepting food at the time of breaking his fasts he did not make any distinction between the families of higher and lower status. He accepted alms from the Brahmins, farmers, cowherds as well as from common householders. It did not concern him whether he got sumptuous or dry, fresh or stale food. He spent all these years in deep meditation observing various postures of Yoga. He moved from place to place in the Gangetic region staying at various places either for some days or for four months of the rainy season.
He had great compassion for living beings. At Morāka due to shortage of fodder some cows began to destroy the thatched cottage where Mahāvīra sojourned. But he remained in meditation and did not deprive them of their food. This behaviour of Mahāvíra was not liked by the head of the Tāpasas of Morāka. He abused Mahāvīra. This incident shook his heart and he made resolution that he would never stay with anyone if his sojourn was unpleasant to him. He decided to take no help from others and to observe silence. He even gave up the use of utensils and started taking food in his own palms. Throughout his wanderings he did not seek shelter with any householder. Places of his sojourn were groves, gardens, shrines dedicated to popular deities, work-shops, factories, deserted houses, desolate places,