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- Dr. Jayanti Lal Jain
The story of Mahavir is narrated here briefly to show how a tribal man (Bhil) rose to the state of Bhagawan (God). The purpose is to disseminate this knowledge and derive inspiration that anyone can achieve that exalted state of pure soul. For those who want to embark on the path of Moksha, it is necessary to know how others have accomplished the same task. He lived an ordinary life like many of us and sometimes placed in so much adverse conditions than what are we placed today. We are in better and advantageous position in many respects.
In Jain literature, only the story of Mahavir is available for such a long period and spread over innumerable births. For no other Thirthankars or anyone else, such a complete story is available in the literature. For others, the story relates only to a few births. We are really fortunate to have such a vast story which throws a great light on the way a person achieves Moksha. The story covers a period of more than one kodakodi sagar, which is estimated to be 74 digit number of years, starting with 4. One sagar is approximately 60 digit number.
Mahavir in the Making From Bhil to Bhagawan
The story is presented here, according to birth, in three parts to facilitate easy understanding. Although there is a long story available in Jain literature for each of births, it is explained here with a very brief description to capture the essence of what happened in that life. Part I essentially narrates his rise and introduction to the spiritual world. However, he was unable to take full advantage of available opportunities in human births and remains in the state of superficial level of spiritual knowledge. As a result, he goes back to the vicious cycle of births of all types - innumerable births of having four, three and two senses and ultimately in births with only one sense. This is shown in Part II. After spending very very long time in births with only one sense, there is a dramatic turn in the story as he gets human birth again. Certain events, although seemed to be with good intentions, land him in births of lion and hell. However, he attains self-realisation in the life of a lion and in successive births quickly ascends the different ladders and was ultimately born as Mahavir. Lord Mahavir attains Moksha and becomes Bhagawan for all times to come. This is Part III of the story which is briefly depicted in this essay.
Birth Bhil/Tribal
First Heaven
Marichi
Mahavir in the Making - Part I
Brief Description
Trillions of years before the birth of first Thirthankar, Adinath, there was a group of Jains & monks who had gone for a pilgrimage and the dacoits looted them. One monk among them, Sagar Sen Muni was lost in the jungle and was meditating on the nature of pure soul sitting on some rock. A tribal leader (Bhil) named Pururava mistook him to be an animal and wanted to kill but his wife prevented him saying that he looked like a saint. Both of them went to the Saint, prayed and decided to give up eating animals, became a vegetarian after listening to the Saint's preachings.
Lived for 2 'Sagar'; enjoyed pleasures of Heaven. Life in heaven is full of mental anguish except that one does not have to earn to live and body free from diseases
Human life, grandchild of Adinath, first Thirthankar and son of Bharat
