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THE SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS OF JAINISM
A.1.1 PURSUIT OF THE GOAL AND ENLIGHTENMENT
He devoted the subsequent twelve and a half years to his research with intense single-mindedness. As he felt that it would assist his meditation, he lived very frugally, wandering from. place to place wearing only a single garment and frequently fasting. He also reduced his other needs, e.g. by removing his hair by hand. Sointense was his concentration on his goal, that when his garment was accidentally caught on a thorn bush and pulled off, during 13 months of renunciation, he remained naked. (However, according to the Digambaras, he removed his clothes at the time of renunciation.)
Another incident showing his single-mindedness of purpose relates to how he was meditating in a standing posture in a farm and the farmer who had his cows grazing around him, asked him to look after them whilst he was away. Since he was in a state of deep meditation, Mahavira did not notice that the cows were wandering away. When the farmer carne back, he asked Mahavira about the missing cows and since he was under a vow of silence, he did not reply. The already upset farmer was further infuriated and he hammered two wooden nails through Mahavira's ear to punish him for this lapse. But even that action did not break Mahavira's silence, and Mahavira remained compassionate towards him.
It is said that he remained in total solitude until Mikk hali Gosāla, who had heard of Mahavira's outstanding abilities, searched and found him. Gosāla was a travelling storyteller and a follower of the fatalist doctrine of the Ajivika sect of which he later became chief spokesman. It is related that they were together for six years during which time Gosāla became thoroughly acquainted with Maha vira and his abilities. Mahavira described the six months of austerities which he thought necessary for the attainment of these abilities.
Mahavira finally attained kevalajñāna (Dynamic Omniscience State) precisely 12 years, 6 months and 15 days after starting out on his search. Thus he was able to comprehend the mechanism of the universe as a whole and human nature in particular, which led him to the root of all problems.
A.1.2. CAREER AS A TIRTHANKARA
Having left his princely state in pursuit of his goal, on his enlightenment Mahavira came back to share his knowledge with the community. The event of coming back is far more significant than his search. He gave his first sermon to an audience which included Indrabhūti Gautama, who was well versed in Hindu scriptures and
