Lord Mahavira and His Times

SR No.: 011080
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kailashchandra Jain
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 427
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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Lord Mahāvīra and His Times ous one', because with his birth, the wealth, fame and merit of the family increased.
The two ascetics, Sanjaya and Vijaya, became somehow suspicious about the nature of some object. As their suspicion immediately disappeared at the sight of Lord Mahāvira soon after his birth, they therefore gave him the name Sanmati in devotion.
The scriptures of both the Śvetāmbaras and the Digambaras relate the legends of Mahāvīra's supreme valour and how easily he excelled all his companions in strength and physical endurance during boyhood. One day, playing with his friends in the garden of his father, Mahāvīra saw an elephant, mad with fury and with juice flowing from his temples, rushing towards him. His companions, all boys, shocked and frightened at the sight of this imminent danger, deserted their comrade and ran away. Without losing a moment, Mahāvīra. made up his mind to face the danger squarely, went towards the elephant, caught hold of his trunk with strong hands and mounted his back at once.
Another legend tells how, when Māhāvīra was playing with the same children at Ambali pipali (a short of 'tick or 'tig') among the trees, a god disguised as a dreadful snake appeared on a tree. All his companions were alarmed and fied away. Mahāvīra, mustering courage, remained calm. He caught hold of the snake and threw it away. The god again decided to frighten the child by carrying him high up into the sky on his shoulders. Mahāvīra, however, was not in the least alarmed, and seizing this opportunity of showing his superiority over the immortals, whacked thc god and pulled his hair so hard that he was only too ready to descend and get rid of his obstrcperous burden.2 As he stood fast in the midst of dangers and fears, patiently enduring all hardships and calamities, adhering to the chosen rules of penance, and as he was wise, indifferent to pleasure and pain alikc, rich in self-control and gifted with fortitude, the name Mahüvira was given to
1. Alahefurára, 76. 2. Tri. Pu. Cha, 10, 2, 217; Āra. Chu. I. p. 240.