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Non-Violence : A Way of Life abundant mercy, but also his utter non-attachment to his own physical self. On the first night of his initiation this incident occurred which put his equanimity to the test. Prince Vardhaman was now monk Vardhaman. From the royal bed of flowers, he has stepped on to the rugged and thorny path of austerity. One night, while he was standing in the Kausagga posture outside Karmar town, a cowherd asked him to look after his bullocks for a short time while he was himself away. When the cowherd returned, he did not find his bullocks. Mahavira was now in meditation and since cowherd got no answer from Mahavira, he searched for his bullocks on the river bank, among the hills, in the deep foliage and in every nook and corner. He did not find his bullocks anywhere. Dejected and weary he came back where Mahavira was and there he saw his bullocks sitting beside Mahavira.
He flared up in anger. He took the bullock's rope and started lashing Mahavira with it. But at that moment, god Indra appeared and challenged him. He said to the cowherd, "How foolish you are ! He, whom you think to be a thief, is the son Vardhaman of King Siddhartha. Casting off the life of a prince, he has set out to purify his soul. Do you think he would steal your bullocks ? You do not know you are hurting the Lord."
The cowherd, the offender, fell prostrate at the feet of Mahavira. Mahavira's eyes brimmed over with abundant compassion. The great god Indra said, "Such foolish worldly persons will waylay you on the difficult path of austerity. So, let me live in your presence and remove the obstacles. During the period of your penance for the next twelve and a half years I will be by your side to look after you." Having heard what the great god Indra said, Mahavira
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