Tirthankar Mahavir

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

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Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
more and more unfavourable conditions of existence in succeeding births. Corresponding to the higher degrees of anger, the soul of Chandakaushika had found worse and worse dwelling-places in successive births. First, he lived in a holy monastery, then a forest and at last the deserted and solitary forest. Also first he was overcome with anger in old age, then at a young age and at last since his very birth. First, anger manifested itself through the instrumentality of a soft broom, then through an axe and after that through the all-destroying poisonous radiant rays shooting from the eyes. Moreover, with passage of time he grew more and more cruel. First there was the intention to kill a child ascetic, then to kill princes and next to kill a great
saint.
Tirthankara Mahavira walked through the forest of Kanakakhala. He found a place and assumed a standing meditative posture and immediately went into deep meditation. In his heart the ocean of compassion was rising. His face was as calm and soothing as moon-light. On the other hand, experiencing the smell of a human body, Chandakaushika came out discharging venom. He thought how dare a human being enter his kingdom. He made fierce hissing sounds. The waves of poison spread all around. As a result, all the butterflies flying in the area fell dead on the ground, in heaps. But the fearless Mahavira remained firm and steadfast.
Failure and defeat to extinguish Mahavira made Chandakaushika even more angry. It coiled its body and shot it like an arrow. It stung Mahavira's toe. The sting was so severe that a fountain of blood gushed out. But it was not common blood. It was not red. It was as white as milk. It was like mother's milk. The cobra stung Mahavira thrice but the latter remained unagitated and equanimous.
Chandakaushika also wondered about the situation. It thought : "Why is Mahavira not affected by the all-consuming poisonous rays shooting forth from my eyes? Why does white blood flow from his wounds ?" There was uniform shower of affection from the mother-like Mahavira on all living beings of the world just as a mother showers affection on all her children. Mahavira loved all living beings just as a mother loves all her children. Whereas a mother loves only her own children, Mahavira loved all living beings, even those who held malice or enmity towards him for no particular reason. Mahavira said, "O Chandakaushika, be calm and wake up. Why do you harm your own soul? Your anger has destroyed your true nature and
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