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BHAGAWAN MALLINÄTH
As the kings stood there in amazement, she explained that in their past lives they were seven very close friends who had done everything together. Upon hearing this, the kings recalled their past lives and what they had renounced. The seven of them now felt an acute sense of detachment for their short-lived worldly life. They all decided to renounce the world in order to enhance the spiritual pursuit that they had left undone in the earlier life. Very elaborate arrangements were made for the renunciation ceremony of Princess Malli. She gave up everything and adopted self-initiation at a place known as Sahasräbhavan. She destroyed all of her destructive Karma (Ghäti Karmas that affect the nature and quality of the soul) in a very short time and attained keval-inän (omniscience) on the very same day, becoming the 19th Tirthankar of the Jain religion. Thereafter she traveled throughout the country for a long time to show the path of liberation to others. Ultimately, she attained liberation on Mount Sametshikhar. The Shvetämbar tradition believes that Tirthankar Mallinäth was a female and the other 23 Tirthankars were male. Idols of Tirthankars represent the qualities of the Arihantas and not their physical body. Hence, the physical appearance of the idols of all the Tirthankars is the same without any indication of male or female gender.
Moral: This body is a mere vehicle, a vessel that holds the soul. When you die, your soul simply moves on to the next body, unless you have attained liberation from the cycle of birth and death. One needs to realize that this veil of skin and flesh is mortal. Physical beauty is deceptive and impermanent. Princess Malli made this point through the statue and the spoiled food. The importance of our human life is a means of attaining liberation from the cycle of birth and death. One needs to rise above the physical aspects of life and use this life to its fullest capacity to progress spiritually so that our souls can attain liberation.
03 - Questions: 1. Who was Bhagawan Mallinäth in a previous life? Who and how were he and his friends influenced? 2. Who were princess Malli's parents? What did her father establish? What did the artist create and what
happened to him? 3. What did the artist do after his thumb was cut off? 4. When princess Malli realized the problems created because of her, what did she do? 5. What did all the kings realize about their life and their bodies? 6. Which karmas do you have to destroy to attain keval-inän? Where did Bhagawan Mallinäth attain nirvana?
JAIN STORY BOOK
