Pearls of Jaina Wisdom

Author(s): Dulichand Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 59

Life of Lord Mahavira
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mind. He lived on rough foods : rice, jujube and beans. On one occasion only these sustained him for eight months. Sometimes, he drank nothing for months. Even when he ate, his food was always of a tasteless kind. Sometimes he ate only every third, fifteenth or thirtieth day and so on. Being free of desires, he remained engrossed in self-contemplation. He meditated without aversion or desire and was attached neither to sounds nor to colours. He was always alert and watchful in his austere life during his wanderings.
Renunciation of Attachment
Mahāvīra had no attachment for sensual matters. Even when he suffered from some ailment, he never took to medication or rest. He always kept himself awake. He had an extraordinary control over his sleep and slept very little during this long period. He used to fix his concentration over a particular object and meditate for hours continuously Total Detachment of Mahāvira
Mahavira always meditated in solitude and never mixed with people. He showed no interest in music, dance, drama or any other entertainment. When he was asked about his identity while wandering in secluded places, he gave a short reply : ‘ahamaṁsi ti bhikkhuḥ', i.e., I am a Bhikṣu ( mendicant ). He was dispassionate to the external world and was constantly engrossed in the contemplation of the self.
Ceasing to inflict injury on living beings, abandoning concern for the body, Mahāvīra wandered in search of Truth. In some areas, Mahāvīra faced great adversities. Sometimes in villages, people did not allow him to stay overnight at their place. At other times, when he approached a village, the inhabitants met him outside and attacked him saying, 'get away from here'. In some places, he was beaten with sticks, fists and lances, he was hurt with clods and stones. Beating him again and again such people raised
a huge din.