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Bhagawan Mahavir ]
[ 107
Marichi preached to him the principles of Jain-religion and pointed out its merits. Kapaila interrupted him and said, "These are people who are adept only in imparting instructions to others and you are one of them. you are trying to initiate me into Jainism, while you yourself do not seem to be really sincere about it. Are you really a man without any religious faith ?” Marichi said that no faith was irreligious. Kapila was satisfied with this answer; he post rated himself at the feet of Marichi; and became his disciple. Marichi had to live in this world for a period of one kotakoti sagaropama years in expiation of his sin which he had committed by breaking the rules of right conduct on this occasion. Without any confession, he got rid of his body by means of fasting and penancing; and after his death, he went to Brahmadevaloka ( the region of gods) where he was given the life of a god lasting for a period of seven Sagaras. This was the fourth birth of would-be Lord Mahavira.
When the soul of Lord Mahavira had completed the span of its divine life in Brahmadevaloka, it took its birth in the house of a Brahmana in a village named Kollaka. The child was named Kausika. The prime of his life was spent in the enjoyment of sensual pleasures and in hoarding wealth by dishonest and sinful means. The reader should not therefore wonder to hear that the fifth life of Lord Mahavira was mostly sinful, indolent and given to worldly pleasures. However Kausika assumed Tridandi fasceticism at last and observed it till the end of his life.
In his sixth birth, Lord Mahavira due to austere penances practised through ignorance again got celestial life in the second heaven named Ishana. After completing that life,
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