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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Thus, Queen Mrugavati put her son in the custody of King Pradyota and became a female ascetic. Following the example of Queen Mrugavati, Angaravati and seven other queens of King Pradyota requested their husband to allow them to become female ascetics. Obtaining the permission, they too assumed the ascetic life.
Lord Mahavira's teaching prevented war and bloodshed. Instead, it brought about universal love and non-attachment and the city of Kaushambi experienced well-being and peace.
Predeterminism Versus Human Effort
A very rich potter named Saddalaputra lived in the town of Polasapura. He belogned to the Ajivika sect. He possessed three crore gold coins and ten thousand cows. He had five hundred workshops outside the town, where earthen wares were made and sold. Saddalaputra and his wife Agnimitra believed in the doctrine of determinism, propounded by Mankhaliputra Goshalaka, a leader of the Ajivika sect. Goshalaka had formerly been a pupil of Mahavira but he went on to become his opponent and adversary. He maintained : "Whatever is destined to happen will happen. The course of future events cannot be changed. It is firmly fixed. Human effort is futile and cannot change it."
On his journey, the venerable Mahavira left Kampilapura and arrived in Polasapura. Saddalaputra invited Mahavira to accept food and shelter at his house.
Mahavira went to Saddalaputra's house. Saddalaputra was moving the dry wares from sunshine to shade and the wet ones from shade to sunshine. Mahavira had the following dialogue with him :
Mahavira : "O Saddalaputra ! Are the potter's wares made by human effort or not?"
Saddalaputra : "They are made by force of Fate. All things are predetermined. Their states are fixed. Their creation and destruction require neither human efforts nor the operation of causes."
Mahavira : "O Saddalaputra ! Suppose someone breaks your pots or makes advances to your wife. Will you hold him responsible for his misdeeds ? Or, will you consider them to be ordained by Fate and hence remain calm ?"
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