________________
542
On the very day (when Bhagavan Mahavira was to enter into liberation), he sent his first Gaņadhara Indrabhūti Gautama to a Brāhmaṇa named Devas'arma in order to inspire him. The reason why Mahāvira sent away his intimate disciple in that manner was that being present on the spot), Gautama, who had enjoyed his close association for a long time would break down with grief at his death. Indrabhūti received the sad news of the liberation of Bhagavān Mahavira when he was at the house of the Brāhmaṇa, Devas armā. It came as a stroke of lightning on the devout heart of Indrabhuti. In a fit of soliloquy, he said,
'Bhagavan! What has thou done ! On an occasion like this, I have been separated from thee. Is it possible that I would have acted like a child and tried to prevent your exit to the summum bonum. Did you conceive my affection for thee to be so very artificial? If perchance I had followed thee, would there have been so much shortage of space in the Siddhasila? Would I have been a burden for thee? Henceforth, at whose lotus-like feet shall I bow in reverence? To whom shall I henceforth ask questions on life and liberation. Whom shall I henceforth address as 'Bhante', and who will affectionately call me 'Goyama'?
Thus floating in the tormenting current of sentiments, Gautama somewhat controlled himself, and his thoughtcurrent was reversed:
'Well! Why am I blinded by affection? What is the attachment for one who is beyond all attachment-detachment (vitarāga)? This is no more than a one-sided affection in me for him. Enough with it. I give it up now. I am my own unity. I am shared by none. I belong to none: nothing (no one) here belongs to me. Attachment and malice are just perversion of the mind. Equanimity (balance) is the only strength and support for the soul'.
Thus passing througi. ne deeper consciousness of the self, Indrabhūti Gautama attained omniscience right on the spot(20).
During the night when Bhagavān Mahāvira passed away, 9 Mallakis, 9 Licchavis and 18 gana-chiefs from Kasi and Kos'ala were performing the vow of pausadha(21).
