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Mahāvīra: The Great Wanderer
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into the ears. With that period, the adversities were over. This spiritual hero had defeated the karmic shackles with his army of determination and stead-fastedness. He became a Jina, a conqueror.
This period of adversities and austerities reached its zenith at Jambhiyagrāma on the banks of the Rjubālukā river. It was the tenth day of the bright half of Vaišākha month. Fasting for two and half days, meditating under a huge Sāla tree in the Godohika (milking) posture facing the sun, this ascetic attained Kevalajñāna (the fifth degree of knowledge - omniscience) - a state of infinite knowledge, infinite intuition, infinite energy and infinite bliss.
"Now the venerable ascetic Mahāvīra became a Jina (conqueror), an Arhat (worthy of worship) and a Kevali (omniscient). He became the twenty-fourth Tīrthankara of the present era" * (Kalpasūtra, 121). Hereafter, sramaņa Mahāvīra came to be known as Bhagavāna Mahāvīra.
The inner journey unfolded further. The journey hereafter was that of the teacher, the guide, and the preacher. After attaining omniscience, Lord Mahāvīra began to give discourses. As before, he wandered from one place to another on foot. From Jambhiyagrāma he moved on to Madhyama Pāvāpurī. There, a Brahmin named Somila was organizing a large religious sacrifice. Several Vedic scholars along with their disciples were assembled there; chief among them was Indrabhūti Gautama. They had all heard of Lord Mahāvīra's enlightenment but were disbelieving of it.
As soon as Indrabhūti saw Mahāvīra, Mahāvīra addressed him, “Oh Indrabhūti! You have doubts about the self.” How did Mahāvīra know? Indrabhūti had not uttered a word regarding this
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