Path of Arhat

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Sohanlal Smarak Parshwanath Shodhpitha Varanasi

Page 58

Mahavira : A Non-violent Revolutionary
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that one can shed his accumulated karmas. This process is known as Nirjară.
Thereafter, Mahāvīra had to undergo troubles and tortures of various types at various places from various sources, but had silently suffered the same without seeking any help from others. The incident illustrates a genuine Jaina approach towards the problems of life.
Five Resolves at Morak Hermitage
From the above place, Mahavira went to ‘Morāk Sanniveśa' where there was a hermitage conducted by one who knew him. He was invited to pass four months (Caturmása) of rainy season at the hermitage. He agreed and used to live at a thatched hut of grass where he was meditating. Once, some cows came and began to eat away the grass of all such hutments of the hermitage. All the inmates of the hermitage, except Mahavira, ran to drive away the cows and saved the hermitage from further damage. Mahāvīra, however, remained engrossed in his meditation. Such incidents were repeated two or three times more when Mahāvīra adopted the same attitude. Others resented this as a callous and careless attitude and complained to the head of the hermitage who called Mahāvīr: and tauntingly asked him what kind of Kșatriya ( Ruling class ) he was that he could not protect his own hut being damaged. Maha vīra did not utter anything but immediately left the hermitage making the following five resolves for future:
नाप्रीतिमद् गृहे वासः, स्थेयं प्रतिमया सदा।'
न गेहि विनयः कार्यो, मौनं पाणौ च भोजनम् ॥ “Henceforth, I will not stay at any place so as to cause discomfort to others, will pass as much time as possible in meditation, will observe silence, will receive food in palms to eat it, and will not do any service to householders.” This was his first major lesson of life of a wandering recluse.
1. See : Trişaşțišalaka puruşa, Parva 10, Canto 3, Verse 67.