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174
SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
Monk Harikesh quenched their curiosity in conformity with Lord Mahavira's dicta thus
'Rudradeo! Austerities serve as fire in my sacrifical rite The seat of awareness is the altar The virtuous tendencies of the mind, speech and body are the ladles to pour the butter with My body is the dung-cake to light the fire My action is the fuel Restraint is the hymn to invoke peace Thus do I perform my non-violent rite'l
The dialogue indicates no repudiation of the sacrificial rites It only indicates a transformation of the act This transformation took the bottom off the practice of animal sacrifices The disciples of Mahavira verily engaged themselves in the noble task of repudiating the sacrifical rites
A goat was being led to the sacrificial altar A monk saw the procession He stood in the way and as the goat came near, he bent low as if to listen to the whisper of the goat A few passersby assembled to see this funny sight After a moment the saint again stood up erect The people asked 'What made you bow down thus, sir?'
'I was communicating with the goat' 'Let's know what communication you had with the goat'
'I asked the goat, 'Have you to say something before dying ?'
'Yes! I would like to convey my feelings to the people' I assured him to do the bidding Said he, "I am being led to the altar so that I may attain the heaven Pray tell the sacrificer to spare me the ordeal I am happy where I am with hay as my food Why do they goat me to a plight I never crave for? It were better if he had chosen the so called desirable heavenly existence for his near and dear ones Why don't they sacrifice their kins on the altar ?" This was all that the goat said I hereby convey to you the goat's communication, worthy friends!'
The saint forsook to speak but his words echoed down the ages with the message of Mahavira The sacrificial altar saw its perpetuity, conforming to the principle of non-violence 1 'Uttaraj hayani', 12/43, 44
