Book Title: Tirthankar Mahavir
Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust

Previous | Next

Page 191
________________ Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra www.kobatirth.org Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir Rare Description of Mahavira's personality in the very old and highly valuable Jaina Canonical work || Sutrakrutanga || Finding an occasion and opportunity to know about venerable Mahavira, Jambuswami requested Sudharmaswami as follows: "O venerable one ! Like me, many others desire to know about Tirthankara Mahavira, who propounded and preached Religion for the spiritual welfare of infinite number of living beings. We want to know everything about him. So, please tell us what you have known or heard about him." Rev. Sudharmaswami narrated as follows: "That great man was all-seer and all-knower. He was omniscient. He possessed pure knowledge. He was free from all defilements. He was brave, courageous and resolute. He was a supreme hero. His mind was unperturbed and calm. His intellect was bright and sharp. He had freed himself from knots of attachment and aversion. He is now beyond the cycle of births and deaths. He was an ascetic who had truly renounced the world. His observance of matchless severe austerities was superior to any other." Perfect Hero "His knowledge was as deep and vast as the milky ocean. He was as unfathomable and pure as a great ocean. He was as brilliant as Indra, the lord of gods. He was as enduring as the earth. He was experienced, auspicious, supremely intelligent and expert in all sciences and arts." "He was free from the internal passions like anger, pride, deceitfulness and greed. He was a perfect hero. He was the best of all the wise and saintly persons as Mount Meru is the best of all mountains. He was a reservoir of bliss as heaven is a reservoir of pleasure. In short, he was endowed with all the meritorious qualities." The Best of Monks and Men Among the tall mountains, Mount Nishadha is the best. Among conical mountains, Mount Ruchaka is the best. Among trees, Shalmali tree, where suparna gods play, is the best. Among gardens, the pleasure garden Nandana Vana is the best. Among sounds, the sonorous thundering sound of 189 For Private And Personal Use Only

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235