Jain Legend Vol 2

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

Page 253

Wandering in many places with his disciples, in course of time, once,
rya Simhagiri came near a mountain. With the intention of testing monk Vajra, J mbhaka Devas, his friends of former life, by their celestial power (assuming transformations of their bodies), created thick black clouds and reverberating with thunders. Seeing that it was about to rain,
rya Simhagiri entered a cave of the mountain with his disciples. As they were entering into the cave there started torrential downpour with terrifying thunders and dazzling lightning. Within no time, the entire place was flooded with water. It looked as if the rain would not stop. So the monks decided to fast and were happily engrossed in meditation. By dusk it stopped raining. So, rya Simhagiri and his disciples spent the night in the cave itself.
The next day in the afternoon rya Vajra monk, taking the permission of his Guru proceeded towards the hamlet to seek alms. After walking some distance, Monk Vajra saw a small beautiful colony and he entered a house to ask for alms. There a few decent men of gentle disposition paid homage to Monk Vajra and offered him a sweet dish made out of pumpkin. Though Vajra was a young lad, he had a very good knowledge of discrimination. He at once evaluated the alms on the basis of its material content (dravya), season (k la), k etra (place) and analysis (bh va) in the following ways: Matter – pumpkin sweetmeat, Place - M lawa Prade a, season - summer, and analysis – the sacred donors who are wearing fresh garlands around their necks and, whose feet are not even touching the ground while walking; so they are definitely not human beings and therefore must be of celestial origin. Hence, under no circumstances the alms given by celestial beings is acceptable by monks.
Thus, after evaluating the food, he was sure that it was impure. So, declining the food, with a smile he said, “O Celestial beings! As this sweet dish is being offered by gods, it is not fit for monks."
The Jambhaka Devas was astonished and pleased as well, seeing the sharp intellect of Vajra. They revealed themselves in their true forms and offered salutations with devotion to monk Vajra. Praising him highly for his strict observance of pure ascetic principles they went back to their abode.
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