Tirthankar Mahavir and His Sarvodaya Tirth

Author(s): Hukamchand Bharilla, K C Lalwani
Publisher: Kundkund Kahan Digambar Jain Trust

Page 52

TIRTHANKARA MAHAVIRA AND HIS SARVODAYA TIRTHA
hood (dikşā-kalyāṇaka) was arranged by no less a person than Indra, the king of the gods
The theme of this great occasion is exceedingly interesting. Though highly auspicious, this great exit became the cause of the greatest pain to his near and dear ones on account of their deep attachment There was a sharp cleavage between gods and men, as to who would lift his palanquin. But interestingly the victory was on the side of men, though the gods were gifted with a divine power For, in this case, the competition was not between physical strength, but between soul force of the two. Those who would be initiated with the master were the most competent to lift his palanquin The gods had failed, and so did Indra, and they could easily see the insignificance of the life of a god compared to that of a human being. But what could be done ? The palanquin was first lifted by men, and then by the gods
Thus while in the prime of youth, he was initiated by himself as a nude monk on the tenth day of the dark half of Margasirsa As all his attachment and greed were already gone, he had no more attachment for things which were still on his person So in full senses, he discarded his clothes and ornaments, and became a monk.
In becoming a monk, one changes robes to attain monkhood, but in his case, he had already attained it. He adopted the most natural posture which he was at the time of birth. The rest dropped.
Monk Mahavira left the city and entered into the forest But it would be wrong to suggest that he exchanged a sylvan life for an urban life. In fact, he did none What he did was that he went within himself
A person with attachment, even if he goes to a forest, will build a hut, will run a household. Whatever it may be made of, a house is a house and wherever it is, a house is nothing else than a house. A house never parts company from one who is under the clutches of attachment.
Now he applied full restraint on the tongue and did not