________________
Jainism: The Cosmic Vision in Pavapuri was steeped in sorrow. After a silence of twelve long years the saviour had spoken. Not after two or five hundred years, not even after one or two hundred years, not after seventy five years, but only after seventy two years Lord snapped the bond that had stood in the way of his complete liberation. However sweet the moonlight may be, this cannot change the fact of its being an aspect of the black night.
Worshippers now thronging around Lord Mahavira. Rishis were blowing conch-shells. Indra, the chief among gods, was busy making preparation for the nirvana celebration. But the hearts of gods and of human beings were full of grief. For they knew that Lord Mahavira's divine self would now no longer be visible and his pious words would no longer be heard. The great god Indra also wished that Bhagwan should put off his nirvana.
The great god Indra said to Bhagwan, "This constellation suggests an inauspicious fate. Would you please not put off your nirvana for a while ? This is very easy for you who are omniscient and omnipotent."
Mahavira realized Indra's illusion. He said, "Indra, your love for my physical self makes you speak so. All things, the cause of my birth, the function of my body and the aim of my life have ceased to be. Let alone a moment of my life, even a fraction of a moment is burdensome."
Some people thought that whatever Bhagwan might say, he would not accept nirvana so soon. Maharshi Gautama, the prime disciple of Mahavira, had gone elsewhere to deliver a sermon. They thought that Bhagwan would not pass away when his prime disciple was away. But breaking the subtle
1 26
Non Violence : A Way of Life bond of the body, Lord Mahavira attained nirvana.
On hearing the news of Bhagwan's nirvana, the enlightened Gautama burst into tears. His lamentation was so touching that even the hardest of hearts would melt. It is easy to console an ignorant person. Here was the lamentation of the highly enlightened one. Even Indra did not know how to pacify Gautama.
Meanwhile the sadness on the face of the enlightened Gautama was changed into delight. Joy spread where there was sorrow. Indra could not understand this change. The enlightened Gautama said, "Oh ! Bhagwan's nirvana has taught me more than what his life did. He often advised me to be independent, to rise above all bonds of dependence. He advised me to go to the inner world where there is no teacher and no disciple. But then I had great attachemnt for Bhagwan's physical self. My worship was physical rather than spiritual. That is why he kept me away at the time of nirvana with a view to teaching me that austerity surpasses all attachment or narrow love."
Thus for every soul Bhagwan Mahavira brought the message of eternal happiness. This is what he did more than 2589 years ago. But the message still purifies the world.
Let us realize the importance of the revolution that he effected before we move on to the consideration of the message of Bhagwan Mahavira. He made scriptures accessible to the masses. In those days religion was discussed only in Sanskrit, the language of gods. The masses could not understand it and this was considered to be the mark of its greatness. Knowledge
127
