________________
A Journey of Ahimsa unfavourable calamities on Mahavira in quick succession. In one night he created twenty dreadful calamities on Mahavira. For about six months, Bhagwan Mahavira did not get food worth consumption and the body suffered, but it withstood the ordeal caused by Sangama. At last Sangama stood defeated and bowed at his feet. Two drops of tears wailed up in Mahavira's eyes. This had happened for the first time in Mahavira's life, tears in eyes for Sangama had formed many karma in his efforts to harass Mahavira. This shows that a truly compassionate soul will show compassion even to enemies. One, who recognises enemy as an enemy, is Vir; but, one who considers an enemy as a friend is Mahavira.
Jainism: The Cosmic Vision us to take recourse to violence. It is forgotten that non-violence is the only solution to our individual, social and national problems and that it can bring about progress and prosperity in the country and global peace. Instead, aggressive mentality and violent acts are visible all around. People talk through the barrel of a gun. The need for a change in the mindset is far greater today than that it was 2600 years ago, as is the need for the creed of non-violence.
Non-violence means fearlessness in the face of death. On seeing Mahavira's mental concentration, endurance, firm perseverance and unflinching forbearance, Indra, the Lord of Gods, paid his obeisance to him and said in voice choked with emotion, "O Revered One, in granting forgiveness, you are like the earth, in enduring calamities, you are like a mountain, in steadfast persistence in spiritual efforts, you are like an ocean and in concentrating the mind, you are like a rock. Neither a man, nor a powerful god, nor a mighty demon can swerve you from the spiritual path you have adopted."
All agreed with Indra in his praise of Mahavira. But a god named Sangama could not tolerate this. He was very proud of his godhood. He wished to prove that man is nothing before god. He believed that a man, however great he might be, would succumb to the lures of wealth and damsels. Obtaining the permission of Indra, he arrived where Mahavira was standing in deep meditation. He thought : "Indra has made a mountain out of a mustard seed. I shall turn that mountain into a mustard seed again."
He put his plans into action. He played his tricks one by one on Mahavira. He inflicted innumerable favourable and
162
Bhagwan Mahavira's non-violence is based on two strong pillars - fearlessness and friendship. He said : Violence is a mental complex, a state of mind. It is death personified and leads one to hell. It serves no useful purpose and destroys one and all. His life and message led to new thinking and a new way of life. Living based on non-violence finally gave birth to the philosophy of equality and of anekant (the doctrine of manifold aspects). Thus it fostered peaceful co-existence and became the foundation for social life and awakening of human consciousness.
During pre-historic period, the first Jain Trithankar Bhagwan Rishabhdev had given the message of non-violence, in the famous centre of pilgrimage, Shatrunjay, sitting under the rayan tree. Therefore, the first temple in Jain religion is a tree temple. The 22nd Trithankar Neminath, who was prince Nem, was to marry princess Rajul and at that time, he heard painful cries of animals. On inquiry, he learnt from his charioteer that the animals were being killed to be served
163
