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Lord Mahåvira
promulgated the great Vibhuti f Non-violence as the chief one and the mother of religion.
After initiation into the saintly order—and taking a lifelong vow to observe the five Mahavratas: Non-violence, Truth, Nonstealing, Brahmacharya or Non-waste in thought, word or deed, and Non-possession, Shri Vardhamankumar experienced ecstasy in his new life. He was convinced that one should destroy all his karmas in order to be free from worldly misery and the round of births and deaths; that one should be free from Rag and Dueshattachment and hatred.
Jainism teaches that it is easy to be free from hatred but very difficult to be free from attachment; cult to be free from attachment; but that one must conquer both and must avoid the feelings of sentimental compassion and disgust, while having spiritual compassion, which desires every being to be free from this ocean of worldly misery and to attain liberation. When that Vitrag stage is reached, then only can one attain liberation, for otherwise one must move in the circle and cycle of sansar-the world—and its processes. For the destruction of karmas, penances and renunciation are necessary.
Realizing this, Shri Vardhamankumar began to practise selfdiscipline and control over physical desires and to observe and perform extremely difficult penances. He, the ever virile man, showed complete peace of mind in the midst of extreme physical pain, bearing it without affectation and with complete mental calm.
While moving about barefooted, without worldly protection, observing his vows and following his path of liberation, he came across Chandkaushik, a glance-poisoning Nag, to whom he preached peace and forbearance and thus brought to his proper senses. He moved in Aryan as well as in non-Aryan countries and bore with the great patience befitting a saint all the troubles created for him by worldly creatures as well as by other beings. He also observed great penances and long fasts. He accepted alms from Sati Chandanbala and broke his month-long fast when his conditions for accepting alms were fulfilled. Chandanbala afterwards became one of his chief women disciples.
Thus, observing great penances for about 12 vears. Shri Vardhamankumar at the age of 42 acquired Keval-Gnan and
