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In Stone That Cannot Crumble
LEONA SMITH KREMSER
In a curve of temple stone, Anciently, sit the twenty-four images, Jinas of the non-violent Jaina religion. First is Rsabha from the dawning Bronze Age, Giver of the gentle art of tillage to Bharata. In spiritual lineage come His worthy successors, Names esteemed and states of purity Venerated. At the last is Mahavira, an elder to the Buddha, Sculptor of the Four Laws into the Five Jewels, Harmlessness, truth, honesty, chastity, charity - Living Jewels, living in daily Jaina conduct.
Severe mid splendour was the conduct Of the prince to be the twenty-second Jina. Thunder-drums, His wedding procession, Yet His ear caught a wailing of feast-animals. Ancestral jewels to the dust, He took renunciation. Barefoot penance, then, bore Him to enlightenment. Thereafter, His holy word became a personal vow :
“Ye food-animals, prisoners without crimes, Soft-eared victims of mankind's double-dealing, Behold, behold ye are vessels for His gratitude, For ye called this half-learned prince Into intimacy with the dweller Within His body, so likewise That your souls comfort ye, Here He speaks, and speaks Hereafter in echo...
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