Meghkumar

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

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STORIES DURING BHAGAWAN MAHAVIR'S LIFE Upon death, the elephant is born as Prince Meghakumar born here as the prince of King Shrenik because of your compassion for the rabbit. If you could face that much distress for the sake of a rabbit and attain this priceless human life in return, how can you not face the accidental kicking and the dirt from the feet of your fellow monks? Do you realize that by renouncing this worldly life and by becoming a monk you have taken the first step towards the long journey of liberation? Remember that all this suffering and happiness are only due to our own Karmas. They are only temporary by their very nature. The everlasting happiness is achieved only upon liberation." Meghakumar was spellbound by the Lord's words and realized his mistake. He requested the Lord to reinitiate him since he had virtually broken his vow of monkhood by strongly desiring worldly life. The Lord did so and Meghamuni, as he was called thereafter, started leading a rigorous austere life. Fasting for days at a time, he stayed in meditation most of the time in order to eradicate his Karmas. When his body became very weak and he could no longer observe the rigors of ascetic life, he decided to observe the fast until death. This vow is called Sanlekhana. He fasted for a month on mount Vaibhargiri near Rajgrihi. Upon death, he was born in heaven. Bhagawan Mahavir has stated to Gautam-swami that at the end of the heavenly life, Meghakumar would be reborn as a human being and would attain liberation. Here is a great example of compassion. An elephant bears discomfort and pain to save a little animal. As we are more developed and more rational beings, we should learn from these animals to be helpful to each other. In addition, when one takes an oath to lead the life a monk, one should not revert to a worldly life or even entertain thoughts of doing so. An ascetic life is a very tough and rigorous life which makes one realize and understand the true nature of the soul. In order to achieve this understanding, one must put aside the worldly life permanently because it tends to distort things. Suffering occurs because of one's past Karma, so one should bear it with patience and focus on the soul for selfrealization. 96 JAIN STORY BOOK