Jain Journal 1970 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 48

242
JAIN JOURNAL
Fig. 14
Mahavira plucks out his hair. Kalpa Sutra folio, c. 1400 A.D. Under Asoka tree is Mahavira, dressed only in a lower garment. As he plucks out his hair, Sakra catches it. He is on a seat, so too is Mahavira. Below are mountain peaks in exaggerated conformity with the statement that the palanquin carrying Mahavira stopped on slightly raised ground. At the top are clouds.
Fig. 15
Mahavira's austerities. Kalpa Sutra folio, c. 1500 A.D. The various specific episodes of his austerities illustrated in the paintings are found in Hemacandra's version. These are assault of the cowherd, austerities in the country of Ladha, attack by the serpent Candakausika, Sangamaka's attacks upon Mahavira, etc. The story chiefly illustrated in this painting is that of Mahavira and the cowherd who drove the spikes in his ears. Other is that of Sangamaka's attack.
Sangamaka on hearing Sakra praise Mahavira for fortitude in meditation, set out to interrupt it and attacked him with dust, storm, ants, gnats, etc; finally he showed beautiful women. The trials lasted six months but Mahavira stood unheeding.
The story of the cowherd is as follows: A cowherd let his bulls loose outside the village while he went to milk the cows. The bulls wandered away. The cowherd came seeking the bulls and chanced upon Mahavira. He asked if he had seen the bull but Mahavira was too deeply absorbed in meditation to hear him. He asked again and when Mahavira still did not reply the cowherd in a blind fury took two spikes and drove them into his ears until they met inside his head. Then he cut off the protruding ends that no one might see them and draw them out, and left.
When Mahavira had finished his meditation he went to a near by village and entered the house of a merchant named Siddhartha to break his fast. A physician named Kharaka was there who by his unusual insight understood what had happened. While the two were discussing the matter, Mahavira went outside the village. Siddhartha and Kharaka hastened after him with medical appurtenances. They bathed Mahavira with a vessel of oil and had powerful shampooers rub him.