Shraman Bhagvana Mahavira Part 5

Author(s): Ratnaprabhvijay, D P Thaker
Publisher: Parimal Publication

Page 19

At the moment, when śramaņa Bhagayān Mahāvīra acquired Keyala Jñāna iet pa Perfect Knowledge, the Indras became full of joy by the shaking of their thrones, and they went there to pay homage to the Venerable Ascetic; and having paid their respects they prepared a Samavasaraņa for him. The place became filled up with gods of the four kinds, human beings, and lower animals Although śramaņa Bhagayān Mahāvīra knew that there was none capable of taking Bhāgavati Dikṣā tadt
HT, Initiation into an Order of Monks after renouncing all worldly pursuits—in the whole assembly, he sat on the middle of the Samavasarana and preached Dharma, knowing it to be the established usage of Tirthankaras. The preaching of a Tīrthankara is never fruitless; there is always some individual who becomes enlightened by the preaching and accepts Dīksā, still however, it is a strange event, that the first preaching of śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvīra was abortive, as no one was enlightened by it and none accepted any vow, because the assembly consisted only of gods, a few human beeings and lower animals. This event is, therefore, reckoned as one of the ten strange events of śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvīra.
śramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvīra, knowing that there still remained Tī thankara Nāma Karma atölkit AT FÅ, to be experienced by him, and that it can be experienced by enlightening suitable individuals, went, surrounded by millions of gods and goddesses and placing his feet on gold-lotuses arranged by gods in front of him, to Apāpā 379791 at Nagarı -- a town, twelve yojans in extent, embellished with devout persons, and overflowing with Brāhmins and other individuals who had collected there from various countries for the purpose of visiting the Yajna, with the supremely good object of enlightening the Brāhmins.
śramana Bhagavān Mahāvīra entered the Samavasarana by Hs East-door, went three times round the Asoka Tree thirtytwo dhanusya high resembling an image of gems, and saying Namo Titthassa णमो तित्थम्स ।" Adoration to Tirtha तीर्थ-a