Mahavira His Life And Teachings

Author(s): Saraswati Raghavachari
Publisher: Jain Sastu Sahitya

Page 13

But the supreme greatness of Mahavira was that his life typified all the three because he was not only a material and intellectual benefactor but also a great saviour of souls.
Mahavir was the son of a king. While many sons of kings have had hearts of clowns, Mahavir's heart was kingly too. With him giving was identical with being solicited. The ground on which he stood was the bed of the KALPA VRIKSHA and both his arms were the kindly branches of that Wishing Tree. His charities during the twelve months before his renunciation are said to have amounted to 80.8 crores of gold coins.
As an intellectual benefactor, by the supreme greatness of his mind he illumined the intellects of almost every one he had come in contact with. He purged away ignorance, spread true knowledge, and won the lasting gratitude not only of his contemporaries but also of posterity.
Thirdly, spiritually great that he was, he not merely pointed out, but also led, the way to the Place of Peace. Hence the life of such a great personality is bound to be read with great utility and interest.