Bhagavana Mahavira

Author(s): Chauthmal Maharaj
Publisher: Jainoday Pustak Prakashan Samiti Ratlam

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[ 9 ] the religions history from the beginning of Jainism to the present times. The style of this book is so illuminating, charming simple and inspiring that the reader is carried away by the flow and his heart is impressed by noble ideas. It is not easy to make unintelligible grave spiritual conception easily understandable to ordinary men.Such writers are rarely born who can expound grave philosophical problems to the complete understanding of any reader by writing them in simple language. It is very often difficult for such writers to express their ideas in words clearly and adequately. It can easily be seen how difficult it must be to make simple for an ordinary man the deep philosophical cogitations of the sages of old ? God has endowed this Muniraj with this wonderful extrardinary enviable and unique faculty that he has been able to do great good to humanity.
This book begins with the description of Time cycle, Herein we get a fine exposition of evolution and devolution and the then existing men and things. Next follows the exposition of the meaning of the word "Tirthankar," his characteristic signs, 12 chakarvarties and 27 Virs. Then comes a short but interesting description of 23 Tirthankars. The first Tirthankar Rishabha Devji is described in detail. The history of his times is worth deep study. All lovers of literature and history will be surprised to read that 72 arts were prescribed for men and 64 for women. There were 36 communities and 18 different scripts. There existed 14 branches of spiritual knowlege and 14 of worldly knowledge. In the description of 26 previous lives of Lord Mahavir we come across detailed information about 14. jewels, 9 treasures and 20 means of evolving into a Tirthankar, which extends the sphere of knowledge and is a great help to those wishing for deliverance and spiritual knowledge.