Tirthankar Mahavir

SR No.: 020834
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 235
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 57 MB

Page 168

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Jaina ascetics have abandoned (rather have control over three staffs of the form of activities of) mind, speech and body, while I am under their control. Therefore, my external differentiating mark is a group of three staffs.
Jaina ascetics pluck the hair from their heads with their own hands while I shave the hair with a razor and keep a tuft of hair on my head
They observe great vows while I observe small vows.
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They have no possessions, while I possess a ring, etc. They are free from delusion or attachment, while I am afflicted with it. To show this, I keep an umbrella.
They tour bare-footed, while I wear shoes to protect my feet.
Jaina ascetics are fragrant with their good conduct, while I am not so good in conduct as they are. Therefore, for fragrance I mark my forehead with sandal paste.
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Jaina ascetics wear white old pieces of cloth signifying their total freedom from passions, while I, being under the sway of passions, wear ochre-coloured pieces of cloth. As the use of water causes injury to infinite water-bodied living beings, Jaina ascetics have abandoned its use in bathing, etc. On the other hand, I use it in limited quantity in bathing etc.
When Marichi became tridandi, his external appearance was as follows:
| His head suas clean-shaven but it had a treft of hair on it.
He wore ochre-coloured pieces of cloth. He had some water and fragrance of sandal paste, etc.
Three staffs in his hand. An umbrella on his head.
A ring in his finger. Shoes in his feet.
Of the twenty-six previous births of Tirthankara Mahavira, in seve as a tridandi. Those seven previous births were of (1) Marichi, 4) Kaus
) Pushyamitra, (4) Agnidyota, (5) Agnibhuti (6) Bharadvaja, Lara
(6) Bharadvaja, and (7)