Chitrabhanu Man with Vision

Author(s): Clare Rosenfield
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Centre New York

Page 88

Prophets over a period of several thousands of years. From the very roots of pre-history, the mountains, the earth, the places of meditation have been steeped in the vibrations of reverence for life. The atmosphere vibrates with the living experiences of men and women who have come here to purify their minds and hearts. Adinātha himself is thought to have taught in Magadh. Of the twenty-four Tirthankaras, three were born here, twenty reached final liberation here, and the last two, Pārshvanātha and Mahāvir, spent their whole lives here.
Pāvāpuri is a particularly special pilgrimage place for it marks the spot where Mahavir delivered his final sermon and where he breathed his last breath, his last gift to mankind. While he walked the earth, Mahavir lived as a light, a beacon of inspiration, a blessing to all, an incarnation of love and compassion. That is why the moment of his departure was considered to be a night of darkness for the world. At the time, eighteen Lachavi kings who were in the area of Pavapurl for a federal conference heard that Mahavir was giving a sermon. They went to attend it. When he completed his talk, he departed from his body, ascending to the highest point of consciousness, in perfect non-violence, the ultimate Realization of Self. Once the kings saw that Mahavir was gone and that his disciples were in a great pain, they declared, “Bhavatipak gayechate”, meaning, “Now that Mahāvir's bodily lamp is extinguished, let the outer lamp be lit as a symbol of his divine light.” In small villages everywhere in India, Jains lit tiny lamps in his memory. From this moment, in the year 527 B.C., the festival of Dipāvali, the festival of lights, came into being, marking as well the beginning of the New Year, because Gauttama Swami, Mahāvir's first disciple, became Kevali, omniscient.
It was on this sacred festival eve that Rup and his father visited Pavapurl, heading towards the temple dedicated to Mahavlr. It was nearly the end of monsoon season and the October sky was dark and moonless. All of nature seemed to be hushed. Even the dogs had stopped barking and the owls were keeping silent. Here and there people were seated in quiet meditation, tuning themselves to Mahavir and ascending with his ascended soul. Chhogalal let his son go ahead of him