Jain Story Book

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 27

That time Lord Mahavir was in the renounced state. In his endeavor for seeking truth and ultimate happiness he was continually meditating and observing severe austerities. In that process he went without food for days together. That year he had imposed upon himself apparently improbable stipulations for accepting food. He had vowed that he would accept food only if soaked black peas were offered to him from a winnower by a princess in chains with shaved head, who had fasted for three days and who had tears flowing from her eyes. How all these conditions can be operative in one single case? For months he used to go from place to place and came back without food, because his stipulations could not be fulfilled. But how the fate could allow so great an ascetic to die for want of food? The fate had wrought apparent havoc on Chandanbälä as if to enable her to fulfill the divine mission of terminating six months' fasts of Lord Mahavir!
So the Lord happened to come for alms where Chandanbälä was thinking to offer food to some monk. He saw all his stipulations coming true.Here was a princess in chains with cleaned shaven head, having fasted for three days, offering black peas from winnowing pan. Chandanbälä was happy to see the great ascetic in front of her and cheerfully offered the peas. For Lord this was the right situation for accepting food. But nay, where were tears? He declined the offer and turned back. Chandanbälä felt intensely miserable that the sage did not accept her offer for food. She started crying terribly and tears began to roll down her eyes as she repeatedly entreated the great ascetic to accept her humble offer. The Lord looked back and saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. Now all his hard to believe stipulations were operative and he willingly accepted the food offered by her.
There was a thunderous cheer outside. For months people of Kaushämbi were watching the great ascetic moving from place to place and going back without food. There were a number of his admirers who were concerned that he accepted food. They used to follow the Lord at some distance since he did not desire any company and wanted to stay alone. All those admirers were filled with joy as he ultimately accepted food from Chandanbälä. They rushed in, showered flowers and perfumes over her and offered good food and fancy clothes. There were some artisans too. They were quick in breaking her chains and there was joy and pleasure everywhere. When Dhanävah came back, his pleasures knew no bounds as he learnt about the miraculous event. Almost the whole city turned out there. Mulädevi also dared to come back to see the unbelievable occasion. She requested her husband for forgiveness. But he was too mad at her wickedness to forgive. Chandanbälä however entreated him to forgive. She asked him to think that the fate had perhaps prompted Mulädevi to do what she did only to enable her to fulfill the vow of the Lord. He ultimately accepted her request and forgave his wife thus wiping out all ill feelings not befitting that auspicious occasion.
Chandanbälä was now happy in every respect. She had however not forgotten the role, Karmas had played in her life and was eager to eradicate them. Therefore after Lord Mahavir gained omniscience, she renounced the worldly life and became the nun. When the Lord set up the religious order, she became the head of all nuns.
(13)
King Shrenik anD Abhaykumar
2500 years back Magadha was a growing kingdom. Kushagrapur in the present state of Bihar was its capital. Sometime before the times of Lord Mahavir, King Prasenjit was ruling over there. He was a devotee of Lord Parshwanath's order. He had many sons. He wanted to know which