Bhagvana Mahavira

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 31

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Thirty Years of Family Life these two years. He realized his self and remained in a state of complete surrender of all worldly activities. He had developed a feeling of complete equality with all the living beings of the world. He saw life in raw water and left using it. He acquired complete control over his sense-organs. He had mastered the process of meditation with a full control over his speech. Although he lived in the family, his life was that of a recluse. He still had the responsibilities of his family on him and could not be called a recluse even.
A year passed. Now there was an interval of only a year between Vardhamāna's present way of life and the one he intended to follow in the future. Though he led a worldly life, his mind remained occupied with the idea of renounc-:. ing the world. He was no doubt surrounded by the grandeur of the royal family, but his conscience was busy planning a friar's career for himself. He did not like wealth accumulating in the hands of a few. Every morning he would give up a part of his wealth and income, and share them with thousands of needy persons. This continued for a full year. He had now nothing left to give up. The course of dăna (giving) ended and that of aparigraha (nou-possession) was to begin.
Two years went by. Nandivardhana's imposition of the time-limit was over. The prince felt that now it was time for him to renounce the world. He had no hitch whatsoever. He, therefore, placed again his proposal to leave the family before brother Nandivardhana and uncle Supārsva. They agreed with him. The Great Exit took place at the muhurta called Vijaya, in the third quarter of the tenth day of the first half of the lunar month of Märgaśīrṣa in the season of Hemanta (autumn) (corresponding to the month of November).
Prince Vardhamana had been fasting for the last two days. He had a peculiar way of fasting because he was realizing that his body was entirely different from his soul.