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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became a renouncer. Though Sambhavan tha got married and sat on the throne at his father's request, his mind was always detached from worldly pleasures. He used to consider worldly pleasures like poisoned delicacies, that is to say, even a poisoned spread may taste sweet but proves deadly ultimately. Similarly the world's pleasures seem beautiful and give delight at the time of enjoying them but eventually they obscure the gu as (attributes of the soul. How shameful it is that a man, who gets the human life on account of great merit, destroys it in attachment and fulfillment of sensual desires. He thought he would himself take to the path of renunciation and inspire ordinary people and impart knowledge of the right faith.
This way, with good thoughts and looking after his subjects as a dutiful king, Sambhavan tha, after ruling as a king for 44 lakh p rvas and 4 prv mgas, became disenchanted. As is appropriate, the lok ntika gods requested the Lord to accept mendicancy. After giving charities for one year (var d na) inspired by the renunciation of Sambhavan tha, determined to walk the path of path of self-discipline, 1000 other kings, too, took initiation on the full moon of Mrga r a, after pulling out hair in five fistfuls and giving up all the bad karmas. Gods, celestial beings and men were all inspired by the sacrifice of Sambhavan tha. He conquered all the senses and mental delusions. When he took initiation he gained manah paryavaj na (knowledge of mental modes of others) and his initiation had a great impact on all the people.
At the time of his initiation Sambhavan tha was fasting ( a ambhakta). The second day after the initiation he broke his fast at the house of the king of S vatth (r vast ), Surendra and continued his journey to various regions.
Pure knowledge (Omniscience)
After four months of severe penance as a mendicant (chadmastha) Lord Sambhavan tha destroyed the four obscuring karmasand attained pure intuition and pure knowledge in r vast on the fifth day of the dark fortnight of Krtika month under the constellation M ga ira. After attaining pure knowledge, having given the sermon he founded the fourfold congregation and came to be called T rthamkara.
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