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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
changed. As a result, Hitler was defeated and he committed suicide. Similar plight is pereeived in the battle between soul and Karma.
In the beginning, Karmas get their hold but in course of time the soul is getting stronger and finally it succeeds in vanquishing the power of Karmas. But this happens at the end and today Karmic power is dominating under this consideration. We have to mould our conduct therefore.
The authors of the sacred scriptures have described Karmic powers thus :
“Tirthankar's position is esteemed as the highest one. Conventionally he is born in a noble Kshatriya family. Still the last prophet Shri Mahavira Swami having migrated from the roth heaven viz. Pranata was conceived by Devananda, the Rushabhadatta's wife a brahmin lady."
Brahmins generally beg and so the brahmin family is not esteemed much then why Tirthankara had to be born in such a low family? Every effect is preceded by a cause and here also there must be some cause. The cause lies in his acquisition of karma named 'Nichagotra' arising out of his ego entertained by him for his lineage in a noble family in his third birth as Marichi. He entertained pride saying, "My grandfather was the first among the prophets, My father was the first among the Chakravatis and I shall be first among the Vasudevas. Oh the greatness of my lineage !" He further had patted his arms out of pride. The fruits of this pride (Karma) were reaped by him in many lives till the rest of the fruits secured his birth in a low-type family. This is really strange but the power of Karmas makes it possible.
It is also an ancient, established tradition that the prophet is born male. In Namoththunam prayers which you recite, prophets are described as the most excellent among men. If men are compared with forest animals, prophets are lions. If men are lotus flowers, prophets are white lotuses. If men are elephants, the prophets are the most excellent of the elephants (Hastagandhis). Thus prophets are established as possessed of super-manhood; still however 19th prophet Mallinath was born as a woman. Is this not strange ? In his life as Mahabala prince he practised many severe penances but he entertained some attachments as a
