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Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV ASHADH 4-12 V.S. 2054
ROHINIYO CHOR
(era of Mahavirswami)
Shravak Inspirations
Bhagvan Mahavir was in the samovsaran, Rohiniyo Chor (thief) was passing by and suddenly remembered his fathers words when he was being taught by him how to steal: “There is a powerful religious ascetic named Mahavir. Don't ever listen to his words.” He put his fingers in his ears and he ran from there, but while he was running a thorn got stuck in his foot. He had to remove his finger from one ears to pull out the thorn. At that point he heard Bhagvan Mahavir explaining the four qualities of dev. It made him sad that he had disobeyed his father. Rohiniyo was caught later by the king's army which however did not find any no stolen goods on him. Minister Abhay thought of a clever plan to make him confess his crimes. He made Rohiniyo unconscious, laid him on a beautiful bed and created an atmosphere that simulated that of devlok. When Rohiniyo gained consciousness the devi asked him what his good deeds were. He thought, "What good deeds? All I have done is steal and yet I have reached heaven?" And then he remembered the qualities of dev that he had heard from the Bhagvan and he realized that they were not dev but rather ordinary women. He therefore came to know of the minister Abhay's plan to make him confess. He thought, “If the four lines that I had learnt without intending to saved me from Abhay minister, then being with the Bhagvan with full faith will save me from my previous sins." So thinking, he took diksha from Bhagvan.
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