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שום
Shravika: Sati Revati
Jain Education International
Jain Society of Greater Detroit
PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV JUNE 27-JULY 6 1998 THEITARS
Bhagwan Mahavir's well-known disciple Goshalak was very knowledge
able about astrology and possessed the power to throw fire. With his strong belief in fate only, he started believing that he was omniscient. Once when Bhagvan was visit
ing Shravastinagari, someone asked about Goshalak but Bhagwan Mahavir who spoke of his limited knowledge. When Goshalak found out about this, he became very angry and came to a samovsaran to show his power. When two munis tried to stop him, he burned them with his fire-throwing power. The lord tried to appease Goshalak who refused to listen and tried to use his
deadly power on Bhagvan too. However, the flames circled around him and then proceeded toward Goshalak consuming him and killing him, seven days later. Bhagvan Mahavir sustained internal damage due to the burns which did not heal for six months. Sinhamuni, a disciple of Bhagvan, upon hearing of this, he expressed deep sorrow and asked Bhagvan what the remedy could be. Bhagvan told him to get "bijora pak" (a bitter medicine-filled food) from Revati, wife of Gathapati of the village Mendhik. Revati was a devout follower of Bhagvan. With medicine from Revati, Bhagvan was cured. With this ultimate form of devotion and worship by offering this food, Revati in turn created the highest kind of name (naam) karma of becoming one of the twentyfour tirthankar of the next time cycle.
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