Jain Legend Vol 1

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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iddhabha a was inquisitive to know what right belief was and how did it look like? Explaining the immortal tradition brought to form by the unbound Jinendra to her husband Sulak a said, “Destroying passions, hatred, accepting the Jain religion founded by the Jinendra free from bondage, utter devotion towards the true gods, true teacher, and pure religion is right belief. The other name of right belief is correct knowledge of reality. There are five characteristics of right belief – tranquility, increasing inclination leading to disenchantment, disregard for worldly objects, compassion and faith or affirmation. Helping people of the same religion to be steady in right belief, influencing / propagating, devotion, expertise in the doctrine, and service to the fourfold t rthas, are its five adornments." iddhabha a was very happy to have understood very well the true form of Jain religion from his wife. He too accepted the right belief and the couple, accepting right belief, became followers of Jain religion. The other Brahmins of the village began to criticize them, that leaving their own traditional religion they have become votaries.
After sometime, Sulak a gave birth to a son. It was winter time. One day, in the morning iddhabha a took his son near the fireplace where many Brahmins were warming themselves up in the fire. Seeing
iddhabha a approach them they all stayed around the fire in such a way that there was no place for anyone else, and further they said you are a votary hence there is no place for you in our midst and teasing him they laughed at iddhabha a. Sad and angry with this disrespectful behaviour of the Brahmins iddhabha a said, "If the Jain religion not be one that helps one cross the worldly ocean, if the Arihanta not be the all-knowing, if right belief and right conduct not be the path to salvation, or if there be no such thing as right belief in this world; then let this my son burn to
es in the fire, but if all these exist, may not a hair on his body come to harm.” Saying this iddhabha a threw his son into that fire.
Seeing this, the people assembled there began to cry out, "Oh, Oh, this foolish man has burnt his son". But the moment they looked towards the fire they did not see even the signs of any fire there and in its place, instead was a huge lotus in full bloom and the child was happily playing on it. The people kept looking at the miracle in wonder.
Actually, it so happened that when iddhabha a threw his son into the flames, a wandering celestial being (peripatetic deity), who was ever
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