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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision even an elephant would dash on the ground and die. But this ascetic did not move at all. Not a single word of pain came out of his mouth. Thus, on the one hand, the wicked one would not flinch from his wickedness and, on the other hand, the saint would not flinch from his saintliness. Meanwhile, his wife Yashoda and daughter Priyadarshana came. The unattached king Bhartruhari's heart which would never melt, did melt by his daughter's wailings. But here nothing could affect Mahavira, Lust defeats him whom nothing else defeats in samsara. Age, strength or time do not count there. Beautiful women, dancing and singing in the spring, came to this ascetic, but not a single hair on his body was affected at all.
These tricks of Sangam failed. These steps of his game were defeated. Now he only wished that excited by mental torture and physical pain, Mahavira should, but once pray for God's help. If man accepts god's greatness, it is a great victory. He could then return to his Heavenly Abode with a bright face.
Between Mahavira's two feet a cook made a fire to cook food. A hunter hung cages on his body which was steady like the trunk of a tree. With strokes of their beaks, hungry birds prayed upon the flesh of his body.
At that time, a thief was caught by chance. He said, "I am innocent. I have only carried out the orders of my guru. Come, I will show you my guru."
The thief led the policeman to Mahavira who was practising penance. That 'Disciple' was set free and the policeman beat up Mahavira like a beast. But speaking or asking for help was out of question.
That was the re-payment of a particular debt, whether man
Kshamapana or god - everyone is bound by the rope of Karma. The rope was being out that way. Mahavira got released from the kings gallows, but in fact he was cutting the bondage.
Six long months passed by. He did not got enough food by begging. But it was not in Mahavira to bow down. The gold of his soul stood at the test of fire.
At last, Sangam fell down in supplication at Mahavira's feet. This god's pride yielded to Mahavira's conquest over internal enemies viz. lust, anger, greed, etc. His tolerance melted Sangam's heart, agonizing like bee's wax. Bhagwan Mahavira forgave Sangam who had agonized him in a number of ways for six long months. The Jain scriptures describe this spirit of forgiveness as under: जहिं आकोसणवयण सहिज्जड़,
जहि परदोस ण जणि भासिज्जड़ । जहिं चेयणगुण चित्त धरिज्जड़,
तहि उत्तम खम जिणे कहिज्जड़ ।। [The people who regard the harsh words of wicked persons as fruits of their own accumulated Karma, and do not blame others and get engrossed in the experience of the natural qualities of the soul, and it is this that God calls forgiveness par excellence.]
The Jain monk is forbidden to let the spittle pass down his throat before he asks forgiveness for his error. To love him, who has spread thorns for you, is the real test of forgiveness. Excited by jealousy, Bhagwan Buddha's own disciple once threw a slab of stone at him. Bhagwan Buddha was hurt on his leg. For a number of days, he could not walk. Even then Bhagwan Buddha had no feeling of bitterness towards his disciple. Moreover he said, "If we bear this, they will ultimately realize their mistake."
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