Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 22

the feet of Pärshwanath and started accumulating. It came up to his knees, then to waist and in no time it came up to his neck.
At that time Dharanendra noticed the plight of his benefactor. He immediately came there and raised a quick growing lotus below the feet of the Lord so that He could stay above water. Then he spread his fangs all around the head and sides of the Lord so as to protect Him from the rains. All efforts of Meghamali to harass the Lord thus came to nothing. He was disappointed and did not know what to do. Dharanendra then severely reproached him and asked him to understand that he was unnecessarily creating trouble to the graceful, merciful Lord. Meghamali realized the futility of his efforts. He withdrew all his supernatural power and fell at the feet of the Lord with a sense of heavy remorse. He sincerely begged the Lord to forgive him for his evil acts.
During the period of that distress, the Lord was deep in meditation. He had attained a high level of ecstasy and had developed perfect equanimity. As such, he did not have any special affection for Dharanendra for the protection that he had extended or disaffection for Meghamali for the distress caused. Developing higher and higher purity of consciousness, He ultimately attained omniscience on the 84th day of his renunciation. That was the 4th day of the dark half of the month of Falgun* that usually occurs in April. Then He started preaching the true religion. He set up the Tirth or religious order afresh and became 23rd Tirthankar. He got many followers. The principal disciples of Tirthankaras are known as Ganadharas. Lord Parshawanath had 10 such Ganadharas. His parents and Prabhavati too renounced and became His disciples. Thereafter he lived long enough spreading the true religion and left His mortal remains at the age of 100 years and attained Nirvana on Sametashikhar Hill. This is located in the state of Bihar and is the most famous place of pilgrimage for Jains.
* These months have been mentioned here according to our present calendar.
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LIFE OF LORD MAHAVIR
About 2600 years ago religion in India had taken a very ugly shape. Original classification of the society in the form of four classes had deteriorated. Brahmins considered themselves to be very superior. They looked down upon people of other castes. Fate of Shudras, the 4th category was rendered terrible and they were forever condemned to serve the other castes. They were required to perform the most degraded tasks. They were not entitled to improve their lives in any way. The importance of sacrifices as a symbol of giving up and renouncing was lost sight of and it had taken very violent form. Animal sacrifices were regularly performed and people believed that by sacrifices they would gain the favor of gods.
Under such social and religious conditions Mahavir was born during 6th century B.C. His birth place was Kshatriyakund which was a part of famous Vaishali republic in the present Indian State of Bihar. His father's name was Siddharth who was chief of Kshatriyakund. His uncle's name was Suparshwa. His mother's name was Trishalä. She was the sister of Chetak, the chief of Vaishali.
Mahavir had an elder brother named Nandivardhan and a sister named Sudarshana. The prosperity of his father was seen increasing since Trishalä became pregnant. So his parents gave him the name of Vardhaman meaning "increasing". He is popularly known as Mahavir since he showed high degree of valor in every field that he dealt with. He is also known by his family name as Gnataputra.