Essence of Jainism Part 01

Author(s): Kushalchandravijay
Publisher: 108 jain Tirth Darshan Trust

Page 58

Name, Composition of letters and its effect :
When we receive a telegram of good news, we feel happy, but contrary happens if we receive bad news. Though the telegram contains mere words, they exercise a great influence on us. Goshala had burnt the houses of the whole street by uttering the word Mahavir in warth.
It is said that even stones did not sink, but began to float by uttering the name of Rama. We know that king Ravan of Lanka kidnapped Sita. Rama and Laxman gathered a big army and invaded Lanka. There was sea in between. Hanuman undertook to build a bridge accross the sea. He ordered all the soldiers (monkeys) to drop stones reciting the word 'Rama'. The stones remained floating on water and the whole army crossed the sea and reached Lanka.
While returning from Lanka, Rama asked Hanuman how the stones remained floating. Thereupon Hanuman replied that the miraculous power in the name of Rama, the stones remained above the water as a floating bridge. Being curious, Rama threw a stone into the sea, but it sank down. Hanuman explained that the stone was thrown without any faith. Inherent power of the word is invoked if there is faith. Therefore, we should recite Navkar Mantra with full faith.
Words as names of human beings do exercise a great deal of influence. Imagine some hundred men sleeping in a big hall, where some one comes and shouts out 'Bhaichandbhai'. Only the person bearing that name wakes up, while others do not. Sleep is an unconscious state of mind. Yet, the words influence it and it is woken up. Animals (tiryanchas) are also influenced by uttering names. A cowherd keeps a great herd of cows, bulls and buffaloes. H gives them different names. When he calls any particular cow by her name, only she comes forward and not others.
This shows how words exercise a great influence even on animals.
When Account-books for the new financial year are opened, whose names stand in first page ? We write the names of Shalibhadra, Abhaykumar, Gautamswami and Bahubali.
Nobody mentions MammanSheth, Kalsauric-the butcher, through the latter persons are not our enemies.
We prefer to sell goods first to a pious and simple-hearted merchant. He will honour the Bill of Exchange at sight and pay the amount mentioned in it. It shows that we have faith in the credibility
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