________________ The Glimpses of Vaisali By Vardhamana Mahavira, came forward to preach their message of peace, love and kindness to all. Both of them had made great penance and gone through courses of discipline. Both of them got the enlightenment and carried on their work to awaken, in the people, a true sense of brotherhood and a genuine desire to go by the path of righteousness. Mabavira spent in self-penance and meditation twelve years, and in the thirteenth year he at last attained supreme knowledge and final deliverance from the bonds of pleasure and pain. He was then 42 years of age. There is a graphic and detailed description of this important event in the life of Mahavira given in the Acaranga Sutra which, I believe, every Jain must be knowing. He attained it on Vaisakha sudi dasami. It happened in the field of the householder Samaga outside the town of Jpmbhakagrama on the northern bank of the Rjupalika. When he attained Kevala, he was in a squatting position with joined heels, exposing himself to the heat of the sun, with knees high and the head low in deep meditation. His Kevala is described as the complete and full, the unobstructed, unimpeded, infinite and supreme best knowledge and intuition. When the Venerable had become an Arbat and Jina, he was a Kevalin, omniscient and comprebending all objects, he knew all conditions of the world, of Gods, men and demons, whence they come and whither they go, whether they are born as men or animals or become Gods or hell-beings; their food, drink, doings, desires and the thoughts of their minds. He saw and knew all conditions in the whole world of all living beings. I think everyone will admit that this equipment is necessary to be. come a prophet or a Jagad-Guru. Many people do not realise the significance of the great work done by teachers like Mabavira in raising the moral level of mankind and preventing it from being completely lost. The voice of these saints rises above the din and noise of the vulgar and points out to men the dangers of the path they are pursuing. This warning is much necded and we in Bbarata varsa believe that the Creator does send us this warning and send us a helping hand to get out of the mire, whenever the righteous are oppressed and the uprighteous are rewarded. The city of Vaisali plays an important part in the great effort which Mahavira made. Hence its importance in the cultural history of India is very great.
