Reflection on the Life of Mahavira

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Z_Anandrushi_Abhinandan_Granth_012013.pdf

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Dr. J. C. Sikdar
Mahāvīra as Religious Teacher Tirthankara Mahāvīra had no desires to be honoured by the people nor the desire for liberation nor the fear to be bound by the nets of Karma. He was the real renouncer of the worldly desires and objects, so he could impart the holy teachings to the people in religion, but it was not possible for the worldly people to do so. Although he had the finite non-eternal body after the attainment of Kevalitva, nevertheless, he was always in the state of Yoga ; he attained Kevalajñāna and Kevaladarśana, even then he could come down to the worldly people and enlighten them in religion. Without renouncing the world and achieving the spiritual power one cannot perform the function of Acārya as such. The people will say that this man is worldly and he enjoys KāminiKancana secretly but instructs others that paramātmā is real, the world is dreamlike and unreal. So they will listen only to the teachings of a Sarvatyāgin (renouncer of all worldly desires and objects). Mahāvira was sarvatyāgin, that is why the people listened to his holy teachings and accepted him as a true Tirthankara, having attended his religious congregations in thousands and lakhs.
Forbearance of Mahāvīra The mental and physical forbearance of Mahāvīra was like that of the anvil of a blacksmith. Hundreds of blows of the hammer fall on it every day, still it is undisturbed and unreacting in nature. Like this the intellect of Mahavira is absolute (Kūțastha). The bad people abused and tortured him in many ways during his ascetic life, even then he led quite unperturbed and peaceful life by practising austerities and meditations. He remained calm and observed forbearance in the different stages of his ascetic life with his unmoving mind like a steady and still rays of light of a lamp towards paramātmā. He was beyond ajñāna (ignorance) and jñāna (knowledge) as he attained Kevalajñana (Ominiscience).
Nirvana (Liberation) of Mahavira Just as the dice can be preserved or broken by a goldsmith after making a golden image out of it, just so the body of a monk can be preserved for sometime or given up by himself. The body of Mahavira was given up by himself, while delivering religious sermons at Rajjagpha of king Hastipala of Pava* in his last religious congregation with his followers, after the attainment of spiritual knowledge and power and the completion of his glorious mission of life as the Tirthankara to a successful consummation, having left his immortal life to be worshipped by mankind.
References : 1 Bhagavati Sūtra 15. 1. 541 ;Kcārānga Sūtra 1. 158. 15. 17 Kalpasūtra, Fifth
Lecture 109, 110, 111, 112, SBE XXU. 2 According to the Svetambara tradition, Mahävirā married Yaśodā (Ācārānga
15) but left the world later on due to his detachment to the worldly life.