Mahavira Life and Philosophy

Author(s): Sumeruchand Diwakar Shastri
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 29

Renunciation Now Mahavira renounces the royal pleasures and splendour and becomes a nude monk. As a small pebble dropped in placid and calm water disturbs it by engendering ripples therein; in the like manner worldly possessions disturb the serenity and tranquillity of mind. A Persian poet observes; “A cloth-clad person's mind moves towards a washerman. This does not occur in the case of a nude saint, who is adorned with Light Divine." Saint Lord Mahavira had invincible determinatino to subdue his appetites, anger, avarice, vanity, duplicity and other internal blemishes, which are the root causes of death and transmigration in the universe. External and internal nudity both are imperative and essential for the observance of the supreme vow of Ahimsa (non-injury) as well as supreme serenity of mind, which are essential ingredients for superb concentration.
Saint Samanta Bhadra says: “This truth is known all over the world that Ahimsa is the supreme Brahma. It exists, where complete absence of injury to life is observed". With this end in view the merciful Lord Jina- ( Spiritual victor | had abandoned all possessions-external as well as internal. He therefore did not put on the unnatural