Tirthankar Mahavir

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust

Page 32

Shn Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobarth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsur Gyanmandir
CA
Rushabhdatta
Devananda
he requested his lord to give him his orders. Aware of his loyalty to his master and devotion to the venerable tirthankare, Indra commanded him to undertake the difficult task.
Consequences of Past Actions Inescapable
A tirthankara, a Supreme Soul, is always born in the warrior caste. Only a brave man of heroic warrior type character can show courage in renouncing the world and its pleasures. In his third life of Marichi, the soul of tirhankara Mahavira became arrogant and proud of his family's status. As Marichi, he believed that his grandfather was the first tirthankara Rushabhadeva, his athar Bharata the first universal ruler and he, himself, would be the last tirthankara Mahavira. He became conceited with family pride. On account of such arrogance and pride the soul of Mahavira had to descend into the womb of Devananda, a brahmina woman.
It was Harinegmeshi's difficult task to ensure that despite Lord Mahavira's soul repaying for past karmas by entering Devananda's womb, a woman from warrior caste, Trishala, had to have the embryo of tirthankara Mahavira placed in her womb. Harinegmeshi had to ensure that this exchange took place causing no danger or pain to either woman.
Complying with the ir.struction of Indra, Harinegameshi made proper arrangements for the exchange of embryos. For his descent to the human world, he assumed a special type of astral body and approached the human world with great speed. He approached Devananda who lay asleep in her home in the city of Brahmanakunda. He saluted, with his heart full of