Tirthankar Mahavir

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

Page 33

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
devotion, the Supreme Soul in her womb and then induced in Devananda a special type of deep sleep, called avasvapini-nidra through his divine power. This was to ensure that the mother bearing the great soul would experience no pain whatsoever. He took out the eighty-two day old embryo and took it to the city of Kshatriyakunda. He entered the bedroom of Trishala, the wife of King Siddhartha, took out the female embryo from her womb, and put in its place the male embryc of the tirthankara. With the female embryo
he rushed back to Brahmankunda, where Devananda was still in her deep sleep, and placed the embryo in her womb. She was then freed from the influence of the deep sleep. With a speed greater than that which he descended to the human world, he returned to the celestial world. Approaching Indra, he saluted him with due courtesy and politeness and stated : "O Lord Indra ! According to your command, I return only after having accomplished the task of exchanging embryos. I consider myself fortunate that you gave me an opportunity to demonstrate my devotion to the tirthankara."
Thus there took place a wonderful event of exchange of embryos. Such an auspicious event occurs only once in acs of years. This even illustrates the theory of karma - of action and reaction.
From the womb of Devanand to the womb oj
Queen Trishala
Lord Mahavira's pride at being born into a high caste family as in his third life, invariably resulted in being born into a much lower caste family.
In a previous birth, Devanarda's soul was the elder sister-in-law to Trishala's soul. Both women's husbands were brothers. Devanand's husband being the elder brother. On one occasion, the elder sister-in-law hid the younger sister in law's jewellry box containing beautiful ornaments studded with diamonds. The younger sister in law was deeply upset and hurt at not finding her jewellry box. She was certain that the elder sister-in-law had hidden the box and requested it from her. The elder sister in-law ignored the request and in doing so, she bound negative karma to her soul. Kama that would obstruct gains in the future.
One who performs an auspicious action will surely experience in the future it's auspicious fruit or consequence of the action and while one who