Bhagvana Mahavira

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

Page 46

IV KAIVALYA (OMNISCIENCE) AND THE
BHAGAVĀN'S SERMONS
The Accomplishment of Sädhanā
There can be no effect without a cause. For example, the mango tree laden with fruits must have an efficient as well as a material cause. There can be no mango tree unless there had been a seed. Moreover, the appropriate climate and the season must also contribute their sbare to the birth and growth of the tree. Similarly, no soul can become luminous without the light of consciousness. Also, the light of consciousness cannot manifest itself unless through meditation and spiritual discipline.
Bhagavān Mahāvīra spent twelve years in the sādhană of meditation and self-discipline. He spent another six months and the seventh month was running. It was the tenth day of of bright half of the lunar month of Vaišākha. It was the time of afternoon and the vijaya muhũrta had arrived. Bhagavān Mahāvira was camping on the river Rjubālukā on the outskirts of the village Jambhiyagrāma. He sat in the posture of a meditator in the rays of the sun near a säla tree in the farm of Syāmāk. He had been fasting and had not taken even water for the last two days. In the state of deep meditation, he established himself in perfect equanimity, extirpated the karmas responsible for delusion, ignorance, imperception and spiritual weakness and at once he attained the state of kaivalya or omniscience.
His period of sådhanā came to an end with the attainment of kaivalya. He now came to perceive and know the whole of reality directly. His consciousness had grown pure