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ĀTMĀ The Self....
APPENDIX - 1
Some extracts from 'Bhagavāna Mahāvira's Life' (some previous births)
In the temporal ocean of endless births and rebirths, Jaina Philosophy takes cognizance of the Soul's birth towards eternal liberation only from the day the Soul acquires 'Samyaktva' (right faith). Thereafter the maximum time for the Soul's liberation will be within half 'Pudgala Paravarta Kāla'.
'Lord Mahavira,' the 24th 'Tirthankara' of this 'Avasarpini' at the end of the fourth decending time-cycle, had acquired 'Samayaktva' during the life of 'Nayasara' - a petty prince, in Mahāvidēha Kṣētra.
Nayasara's family tradition was: not to partake of food without first entertaining at least one guest (Atithi Satkāra). It was the main cause of acquiring 'Samyaktva'. He was on a look-out for some guest in the course of his work in a forest. He saw some Jain monks, who had lost their way wandering in the forest. Elated, he went forward and gracefully received them. After his meal he went along to guide them till the town was visible. It was here the scholar-preceptor having grasped the excellent nature and behaviour of Nayasara, expressed his desire to give something in return. Nayasara listened intently to the counsel regarding True Faith in 'Sudēva Suguru Sudharma' (right deity-right preceptor and right religion). With the result, he became a 'Samkiti' (intuition of inner-self). With faith he embraced Jainism and offered to dedicate everything towards religion.
After his second life as a celestial being in heaven, he was born as prince 'Marici', the son of Bharata Cakravarti (king of kings, sovereign of six continents) and his grand father was the first Tirthankara,' 'Rṣabhadēva', in this 'Avasarpini' at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth section of the time-cycle. 'Marici' renunciated and became a Jaina monk disciple of 'Lord Rṣabhadēva', but he could not bear the rigours and strict hard life of Jaina monk. He became an ascetic (Tridandi) where there was an easier life with an absence of monk's strict vows, yet he advised all his would be disciples towards 'Lord Rṣabhadeva' for 'True Spiritual Religion.'
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