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Non-Violence: A Way of Life care though you are a prince. Why is it so ?"
As he was engrossed in meditation, Mahavira did not speak. But he thought to himself, "The monk, who had renounced his family, was now tempted by the security of life in the cottage. It was for the sake of austerity that I renounced my home. Now entrapped in somebody else's cottage, should I forget austerity? The lamp of my austerity can shine under a tree, in a cave or among the ruins of a building." So with the consent of the head of the hermitage, Bhagwan left the cottage with all goodwill. But at that time he made five resolutions. (1) Not to stay at a place which breeds aversion. (2) Always to be in meditation. (3) The vow of silence should be observed for most of the time. (4) Not to eat more food than what can be taken in the palm of my hand. (5) Not to flatter householders. These five resolutions show Mahavira's spirit of renunciation. Like the seeds of a banyan-tree, these vows spread into the shetering tree of true asceticism in life. On account of these five vows he had to go without places to stay in. Only barren forests, ruined buildings and deserted houses became his abodes. But Mahavira was Mahavira. Neither fear nor provocation could swerve him from his path.
Continuing his journey from the hermitage of the Duijjants ascetics, Bhagwan Mahavira reached a deserted town. Most of the houses were in ruins. This town, with the bones of skeletons strewn everywhere, was known as Asthigrama - the town of bones. A fierce yaksha named Shoolapani lived in the temple on the outskirts of the town. He had such a great dislike for the smell of human body that whatever stayed in the temple over-night was sure to be found dead in the morning. The
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