________________
87
The life of Tirthankaras
themselves in the snare of worldly pleasures. Although they have at their disposal comforts of every kind and riches that even the gods envy, yet they think it to be the primary duty and aim of their life to live with indifference for material happiness. After sometime, they leave the throne which they got by right of inheritance, the privileges of a ruler and all the wealth and almost divine pleasures which they were entitled to enjoy; and take upon themselves the vow of leading a monastic life. In the end, when their austere penances and self control annihilate all the four of their 'Ghanaghati Karmans' viz. ( 1 ) Jnanavaraniya ( Karmans which obscure knowledge), ( 2 ) Darhsanavaraniya (Karmans which obscure the faith or insight), (3) Mohaniya (Karmans which produce infatuation ), and ( 4 ) Antaraya ( Karmans which form a sort of obstacle in performing good and kind actions), they attain to 'Kevala-jnana' (perfect knowledge or omniscience), and, thereafter, they rain forth a torrential downpour of nectar of their sweet and delightful spiritual teachings in all directions with the object of raising the fallen souls and guiding them on to the right path. people are inspired by these teachings. Their character and conduct are purified. Their feelings of distinction between great and small, touchable and untouchable, strong and weak vanish altogether. And, they begin to think that nobody can be entitled to special prerogatives solely on the strength of birth in a particular country, caste, or family. To be a great man indeed, it is desirable that one ought to possess noble feelings and perform great deeds. They realise that it is a mean and barbarous act on the part of man to kill helpless, simple, dumb creatures only for the sake of momentary gratification of the palate or for filling up the belly.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
