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110
Lord Mahavira
correct values of life and an example of his having solved its problems in a successful manner. Attachment and possessive instincts have been the greatest obstacles in the attainment of spiritual peace and purification; and he gave them up in an ideal manner. Physical comforts are not an end in themselves; and Mahâvîra became a Nirgrantha, and went about practising severe penances, even without any clothes on his body. We have graphic description of his hardships given in detail in the Acharanga, etc., people abused him, boys pelted him with stones, and thus he was subjected to many calamities in the eastern part of Bengal. After twelve years of rigorous penances, Mahâvîra had a triumph over physical weaknesses and limitations; and he attained pure and perfect knowledge which transcended the limits of space and time: he became a Kevalina Sarvajna. Shrenika Bimbasara was his contemporary and was ruling at Rajagriha. Mahâvîra delivered his first sermon on the hill Vipulachala in the vicinity of Rajagriha. For full thirty years he visited different parts of the country; and it was his Vihara, or religious tour, as well as that of Buddha, that gave Magadhan territory the name of Bihar. Mahâvîra's parents belonged to the school of Parshva; during his Vihara, Mahâvîra explained to his society various problems of life and their solutions. He laid maximum stress on the sanctity and dignity of the spirit, and his preachings were meant for one and all who conformed to the religious discipline outlined by him. The organisation of his followers, including princes as well as poor peasants, conformed to the fourfold pattern consisting of Monks, Nuns, Householders and House-ladies : this nomenclature continues in Jainism even to this day. The influence of the great principles preached by Mahâvîra is seen in India even outside Jainism. He was a Tirthankara, who prepared a ford for the suffering humanity to achieve peace here and bliss elsewhere. In view of the all-embracing character of Mahâvîra's principles, Samantabhadra, as early as c. 2nd century A.D., called the Tirtha of Mahâvîra by the name Sarvodaya, which terms so commonly used now-a-days after Gandhiji. At the age of 72, Mahâvîra attained Nirvana at Pava in 527 B.C., and this day is celebrated with lights all over India as the Divali Day.
