Tirthankar Mahavir

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

Page 99

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
to entice and seduce him. They showed off their youthful limbs. They danced and sang before Mahavira. They made graceful amorous gestures. They shot side-long glances at him. They said in sweet voices, “O my dear, you are so tender and delicate. Why do you unnecessarily subject your body to severe austerities ? And you are so young. This is the age when you should enjoy the pleasures of the senses. Please, come, we invite you to join us. You love all living beings of the world. Why do you deprive us of your love ! You remove the miseries of others and make them happy. Then, why do you distress us? We long for your company, your loving touch and your sweet words. But you stay away from us. This separateness is unbearable. Please, have mercy on us."
Cupid or lust can defeat even those who are otherwise invinicible. Under the influence of lust, age does not matter, nor is prowess recognised, nor is time considered. But Mahavira experienced not the slightest wavering of thought. He was unagitated and motionless. The beautiful damsels were disappointed. They wept in despair and vanished.
Sangama was losing his game and if anything he now wanted to save face. So Sangama thought that he should create a situation which may force Mahavira to seek the help of a god in his moment of mental distress or bodily pain and ultimately compel Mahavira to recognise the greatness of godhood. Sanagma thought that he would then be able to return to the celestial world having made the point.
Calamities created by
Sangamdev
So, a cook made a fireplace between Mahavira's feet and lit a fire there. A bird-catcher hung cages from Mahavira's body. But Mahavira's body remained as motionless as the trunk of a tree. Hungry birds pecked out flesh from his body by their beaks.
At this time a thief was caught. He said, "I am innocent. I have only followed the order of my teacher. He is the real culprit. Please, come with me and I shall show you my great teacher." The thief brought the policemen to the place where Mahavira was in meditation. The 'pupil' was released. And the police-men started beating Mahavira. But Mahavira did not utter a word nor did he call out anybody for help.
In the past six months Mahavira had not obtained any proper food as alms. But he was not downcast or broken-hearted. On the contrary, his spiritual strength was growing. Just as at long last, pure gold pours forth from