Pearls of Jaina Wisdom

Author(s): Dulichand Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 62

26
Pearls of Jaina Wisdom
midnight, the Yakṣa came and became furious on seeing a human being near the temple. Throughout the night, the Yaksa gave him severe and frightening tortures but Mahāvīra was unperturbed. He was engrossed in deep meditation. Finally, the Yakṣa was tired, he repented and asked for forgiveness, Mahāvīra forgave him. In the morning, when the villagers came, they were greatly surprised to see the Yaksa paying homage to śramana Mahāvīra. The entire village rejoiced and praised the great monk ( Trişastiśalākāpuruṣacaritra, 10.3 ). Fountain of Non-violence
Once Mahāvīra was passing through a village called Kanakakhal. The passers-by advised him not to go by the shortest route because there was a huge deadly cobra. It was called CandaKausika. No one would be safe in that place. Mahāvīra asked the people not to worry and he went on the same route and stopped in a ruined temple near the serpent's hole. When Canda-Kausika saw him, it was furious and rushed with anger and bit him. But strangely, instead of injuring him, the snake found that nothing could happen to him. When Mahāvīra completed his meditation, he said to the snake, "o, Canda-Kausika, why do you unnecessarily harass the people here ? Be calm and quiet. Is it not sufficient that you are suffering for your past deeds in the previous life ?” The serpent repented. It could know about its previous births and understood that because of nurturing intense anger it faced many adversities in the previous births and was born in this lower existence. He fell at the feet of the great Sramana and begged for forgiveness. In the morning, the villagers were greatly surprised to know about this incident. The story has an element of belief in the past lives and the concept of rebirth, which plays an important part in Jaina tradition. This is a scintillating example of fearlessness and compassion ( Trişastiśalākāpuruşacaritra, 10.3 ). The Test of Endurance
. In the eleventh year of his wanderings, the great ascetic