Jainism Abroad

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 38

THE HEART-THRILLING SADHANA :
In course of the first CHATURMASA (the rainy seasons' stay at one place) Nirgrantha Mahaveera, rejecting the help of even Indra, has taken these five further vows in the places like KOLLAGA SANNIVESHA and ASTHIKAGRAM that, from now onwards - He shall not stay in a place where there is a dislike of others. He shall always remain absorbed in Meditation. He shall always observe MOUNA, the SILENCE. He shall take his food only in his hands and He shall not go on regarding the Householders - the worldly persons.
And see, from here begins a rigorous voyage full of a series of his tests and trials as a reflection of these vows. Horrible was this voyage of twelve and a half years - all consisting of continuous trials and tribulations and sufferings!
How there were these trials and tribulations ? Far from undergoing or experiencing them, even the imagining, thinking or observing of them is also not possible for us - the 20th century's worldly pleasures-craving and delicate beings. Even their naming and counting at a glance shakens us thoroughly. Here follows a short "list" of some of these tests-trials-tribulations and sufferings :
Those of the Shoolapani Yaksha in ASTHIKGRAM, of the 'Acchanadak' hypocrate & poison-sighted snake Chandakaushika in MORAKA, of the Goshalaka since he joined him from Kolaga, of the guard-soldiers in Choraka, of the Anaryas in Radh Desha of the spy-suspecting people in Koopaya, of kataputana which in terrible cold of Shalishirsha (the tribulations resulted in the attainment of LOKAVADHI JNANA) of Shalarya within Shalavana park, of imprisonment in Lohargala, of sufferings followed by rigorous willful penance in the Anarya Ladh Desha, of jealous God Sangama through twenty severe tests in Pedhala Park of Dradh Bhoomi during 11th "Chaturmasa" of Tosali Kshatriya through the deathpunishment (in course of which the death-punishing log and rope breaks down for seven times saving Nirgrantha Mahaveera), of long penance in 12" Chaturmasa (when he uplifts Chaste princess Chandanbala) and at the helm of all, those of pulling out of the nails thrust into his ears since SIX months by the bullock-owner........ What a series of long long trials - but all of them could not move him even an inch from the deeper meditation in which he was thoroughly lost. How great the PURUSHARTHA - the conscious strivings - of a man staying in the body of clay, how Grand the inner equanimity and balance of mind, how firm the resolve-fulness, how unique the fearlessness - one and all arising from his absorbed state of the Self, the meditation of the absolute Self.
The great Scripture-writer Bhadrabahu Swamy gives the vivid and minute description of this ATMA-DASHA, the "State of the Self" of Mahaveera:
"Restricted in mind, restrained in words, restrained in physical activities; guarding his thoughts, guarding his words, guarding his physical activities, guarding his organs of senses, guarding his chastity; without anger, without pride, without attachment, desisted from everything, freed from compulsion, without ego, without possession, with the tie (of worldly bondage) cut, free from any stain of worldliness; liberated by giving up suffering, like bell-metal vessel sustainedby water, sin-free like an unstained conch, without obstruction like the course of life, without support like the firament, without bound like the wind, pure at heart like water in autumn, without a smear like a lotus leaf, with organs of senses withdrawn like a tortoise, solitary like the rhino's horn, free like the birds, ever alert like the Bharanda bird, with a high status like an elephant, with forbearance like an ox, invincible like a lion, steadfast like Mount Mandara, deep like an ocean, mild like the Moon, refulgent in prowess like the Sun, pure like fine gold, bearing (with unconcern) all touches like the earth, like a fire well-fed by offerings, shone he in his own splendour".*
Thus, after undergoing the steady long Sadhana in Meditation for 12 years and destroying the four KARMAS out of the eight, concentrating constantly on the Self, he came to the door of the achievement of his Sadhana........the door which was lying closed since ages was to open today after long long trials............... THE DOORS THROWN OPEN....
Observe....... Observe that unforeseen vision........! This JHRIMBRIKA GRAMA .... this RIJ UVALIKA river, this SALA tree......, beneath it, amidst the eastward moving shadow, seated in "GODOHIKA ASAN" (the milking posture) and absorbed in the "SAVICHAR", "AVICHAR" States of "PRITHAKATVA VITARKA" and "EKATVA VITARKA" types of "SHUKLA