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224
INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM
Jain interpretation of an
Indus seal on
STA
It was in the Middle of Avasarpinī. An aimless soul, under the power of Karma, wandered from birth to birth in the human and in the animal kingdom, to heaven and hell, until he reached the end of his wanderings. He left his house and went to the forest and all alone he performed his standing penitence. He had the crown of the three virtues on his head and stood so long that lianas grew around his body Together with the bull (symbol of Rishabha] another king, with a five virtue crown (Bharata), came to pay his obeisance, and wished to offer food to the ascetic. The meditating ascetic had experienced the three highest meditational states of a Tīrthamkara. Seven kings were meditating there.
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Interpretation based on the Mahāpurāna, parva 174, given
by Dr. S.R: Jain in: The Harappan Glory of Jinas, 2001
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