Jain Legend Vol 2

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

Page 261

to normalcy. He also said, "When you come across preparations to mix poison in cooked rice, purchased for one lakh coins, then, at once, realise that, that would be last day of the famine and that from the next day onwards, normal conditions will prevail”. rya Vajrasena obeyed the orders of his teacher, went to Kumku a with a few of his co-disciples and wandered in that land which had plenty of riches and grains.
In the land in which c rya Vajra Swm was wandering, the dreadful impact of the drought increased slowly turning the situation from bad to worse. As the monks could not get any alms for days together and they feeling miserable because of the pangs of hunger, Vajra Sw m provided them with food everyday using his magical power and said, “This food is the boon of the supernatural power and thus we have to get along for 12 long years. If you feel that the attribute of temperance is on the increasing pace, you survive on this food, or else you have to observe fast unto death (samth r ). The discretion is left to you; you can opt for either of the ways"
All the 500 monks unanimously and decisively declared their wish to observe fast unto death. So Vajra Sw m along with his disciples set out towards the M mgi Mountain located in southern India. He tried to dissuade a novice monk from observing the fast but he did not listen. On the way to the M mgi Mountain, Vajra Sw m sent him to a village on pretext of carrying out some errand and he continued his journey with other monks. After arriving on the top of the mountain, they paid their humble respects to the goddess of that mountain and stood upright in mediation observing fast without taking either food or water.
Mean while the young monk came back from the village to the place where they have camped. There as he could not see his teacher or other disciples, he realised that his Guru intentionally did not take him along to observe the vow of fast. He reflected thus, “The revered teacher thought that I am unfit to observe the vow of fasting, and hence he left me behind. Am I really weak and spineless? In order to safeguard the temperance, when my revered teacher and all the other disciples can observe fasting why should I lag behind? Hence, I should also follow his footsteps."
Thus resolving firmly, the young monk proceeded up to the mountain. At the foothill, standing on a boulder burning hot, due to the blazing sun, he
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