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SHRI V.NEMI VIGNAN KASTURSURI SMRUTI SERIES
PART - II
THE HIGHLY AUSPICIOUS TAP DHARMA
MAHAMANGALKARI TAP DHARMA (PENANCE) AND SHRI VIS STHANAK TAP WHICH LEADS ONE TO THE HIGHEST STATUS OF A TIRTHANKAR :
PRELIMINARY यद् दूरं यद् दुराराध्यं, यच्च दूरे व्यवस्थितम् ।
तत्सर्वं तपसा साध्यं, तपो हरति दुष्कृतम् ॥ Those things, that are far off, that are difficult to obtain and are physically beyond the reach, can be obtained by Tapa, for Tapa rernoves the evil that operates as a hindrance.
It is destined that all the Trithankars, as a rule, gain liberation, yet they practise penance, soon afier initiating themselves into monkhood. Penance destroys even the most firm bonds of karmas or sins. Even Chakravarti-a Sovereign amongst kings, commanding the known world-when he sets out to conquer the six continents, must propitiate gods for ensuring success in conquests by observing a three day's fast.
Chandanbala, Mrigavati and Nagketu provide examples how innumerable persons attained liberation by practising penance by mind, word and body. A brief description of such penance is as under:
Penance is of Twelve kinds : (A) Six external (Bahya)
(1) Anashan : Renouncing food for a day or more. (2) Unodari
Eating a few morsels less than what is
required to satisfy the appetite. (3) "Vritti" Snakshep : Restricting the number of things to be
eaten. Purpose is to withdraw by stages
from cravings for objects of pleasure. (4) Ras Tyag
Giving up vigai etc. Renunciation of the craving of taste.
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