Shraman Mahavira

Author(s): Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Mitra Parishad Calcutta

Page 72

54
SHRAMAN MAHAVIR
'The irrepressible urge to realise the self enlivened his concentration and relaxation. That's why he was immune from sleep'
'Did the Lord conquer sleep with meditation or did he compliment the latter with the former?'
'The Lord meditated standing Sometime he would walk awhile By these means he could vanquish sleep His meals were sparing He would perform meditation in the kayotsarge, posture or the posture of dedication Hence sleep would not easily bother him The repose resulting from spontaneous meditation would render sleep superfluous what to say of complimenting it'
'ls any incident connected with the Lord's dream-activity extant?'
'Why not?' 'Then let me know about it'
'The Lord was meditating in the Chaitya of Shulapaniyaksa 1 In the small hours of the night (48 minutes before the down) the Lord fell asleep During this sleep he dreamt ten dreams9 The evil spirit of the tank is defeated
The large white winged male koel bird 3 The particoloured male koel.
Two necklaces of jewels 5 The herd of white cows
Blooming lotus-pond 7 The rolling ocean has been crossed by swimming with
strokes of hands 8 Sun in full refulgence 9. Meru mountain entwined with his intestines 10 His own presence upon the throne hinged upon the
pivot of the golden Meru mountain On witnessing these dreams the Lord woke up.
1
(initially known as Vardhman
First year of pursuits at Asthikgram village 'Awashyakchurni' 1 pt. pp 274
2