________________
-YATEENDRASURI SMARAK GRANTH Endurance of severe cold, snow-fall After long spells of sleepessness, for the upkeep and scorching heat
and maintenance of body, he would have only a
nap28. After only a moment's sleep, he would be At the time of initiation, Mahavira had put only awake again and would sit in meditation with fuli one robe and resolved that he would not cover him- internal watchfulness. When, sometimes, sleep torself with this robe in winter 24 Accordingly even in mented him too much at night, he would come out the case of severe cold and in snowfall, Mahavira of the resting place and stroll for a about a muhurta would not even think of seeking windless abode or so. According to Acaranga Curni,29 during the or clothes to warp up himself with. In cold he would entire period of 12. years of his sadhana, he slept stand under the shed. When the night grew colder, only for one Muhurta at Asthikagrama, during which he would come outside in the cold under the open he dreamed of ten dreams. According to sky and go back to the shed, alternately, conform Acaranga, "' dueto disturbance created by demi-god ity with right conduct. In servere cold, he would while in kayotsarga Mahavira lost alertness and boldly walk with his hands outspreat and would slept for a muhurta. not try to avoid cold by folding arm to his shoulders. 25 in summer he would sit in scorching sun. Places of Residences
Abandonment of Medication
Though Mahavira would choose a secluded
place 31 for meditation yet he lived in all sorts of Mahavira would not approve medication for places, such as work-houses (like potter's lodge, himself. Though he was free from internal diseses etc.), assembly houses, shops, manufactories of yet he would occasionally be afflicted by the exter- under a shed of straw32. He sometimes used to stay nali.e. injuries caused by accidents, etc. in the form in inns, in villages and towns, sometime in cremaof attacks by human beings and animals or other tion grounds, in deserted houses or under the trees. beings. To illustrate his indifference in extreme form What is noteworthy, is that he used to live cheertowords medication, the instance of cow-boy driv- fully in these diverse lodgess and his practice of ing a wooden-nail into his ears, is given in Jaina meditation remained unobstructed. Literature. A physician 'Kharaka' had to take it out and dress his wound. The moot point, here, is that Abandonment of vitiated food, tasty mahavira never wished any one to do any thing to food and practice of fasting and dihim.
etary control Soon after initiation into ascetic life, Mahavira
Mahavira always refused such food as prehad vowed to lead a life of self-abnegation by aban
pared for the monks. He was devoid of any ardent doning all bodily care. "In accordance with that he
longing for delicacies. He would not care whether abandoned all sorts of purgatives, emetics, un
or not his meal included cooked savoury, vegetaguents, bathing, shampooing or massaging or even
bles, whether he got cold rice, or stale bean soup, cleaning of the teeth.26
whether his meals consisted of vapid stuff like Alongwith contrui of diet and control of powerder of gram or only grams, whether or not senses, control of sleep constituted the main fea
he got any food at all. He did not even think of any ture of his sadhana. In accordance with his preach
particular 'kind of food. Fully aware of the sinfuling - 'Munino saya jagaranti'27, that is wise are
ness, vitiating the alms that he received; he would alwayas awake' he would not seek sleep for the never accept vitiated food. sake of pleasure and comfort. On feeling drowsy
As control of diet and fasting was significant he would stand up and keep himself side awake.
* part of his sadhana, he would take meals after eimennenstraine
r inarinnar 22 increanErrorEveramenerananntrimaranerne
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