Mahavira His Life And Teachings

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

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home, distribute thy wealth among the poor, take up the cross and follow me."
Following the same principle, Mahavira spent a whole year, day in and day out, giving āway his wealth to one and all that came to ask for alms. The poor, from far and near, were fed on a scale almost unimaginable to the human mind, and each received gifts which destroyed his poverty for his life-time.
Every one, who came and received, blessed the hand that bestowd.
Thus at the end of twelve months of uninterrupted charity, Mahavira commenced his ascetic life with the object of speedily showing the benighted world the path of emancipation from the maladies and sorrows which abound bere under the Sun.
It was on the 10th day, in the dark fortnight of the month of Margasira that, leaving his palace, he went outside the city to a park named Shandavana.
Great crowds of loving people followed him there. In their presence, he made a public renunciation of all worldly attachments.
Then he tore away the hair from his head by the handfuls and took the five great vows.
Having done these, he entered upon a life of penance which was to last for twelve years.