________________
Life of Lord Mahāvīra
Tīrtharkaras do not follow any superior authority. They are their own masters. We do not come across any incident about Śramana Mahāvīra obtaining guidance from any great personality of his times.
Jaina texts give graphic description of the severe penance practised by Mahāvīra and the horrifying experience he had to undergo while wandering from place to place in quest of truth. Mahāvīra faced numerous hardships and indignities during this saṁnyāsa period. Some incidents may help us to understand his personality and the firm determination with which he faced boldly all hardships and ultimately came out victorious. Supreme fearlessness and forgiveness
While wandering from place to place, Mahāvīra came to a village called Asthigrāma. The village looked very gloomy and dreadful. On the outskirts of the village there was a temple of Śūlapāņi Yaksa ( a demi-god ). Mahāvīra found the place calm and quiet and asked permission of villagers to stay there for the night. The villagers told him that this place was haunted by a Yakṣa in the night and pleaded with him not to stay there. They narrated to him the following incident about the Yakşa. “Some years ago, a wealthy merchant named Dhanadatta passed through this place with five hundred carts loaded with valuable merchandise. However, due to heavy rains, his carts got stuck in the sludge and the oxen could not drag the carts out. The merchant had one very large and powerful ox which alone dragged all the carts out. But at the end, it became tired and fell on the ground. Dhanadatta tried his best but the ox could not stand on its feet. Then he gave a big amount to the villagers and asked them to look after it. But the villagers were dishonest. They did not make any effort to treat the animal and finally it breathed its last without food and treatment. The same being incarnated now as Yaksa was taking revenge by killing all who passed through this temple.” Mahāvīra heard the story but was
unmoved. He sat near the temple and began meditating there. At Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
