20. Illusion a passion (Maya kashaya)

IllUSION-A PASSION (MAYA KASHAYA)
Once upon a time Shree Gunnidhi Muni was on fast for four months. He was sitting on a mountain and the heavenly deities were praying before the Riddhidhari Muni. At the end of the four months of rainy season (Chaturmas), the Muni flew away by the sky path. That very moment another Muni named Mridumati came to the village for food (Ahar). Shravakas (householders) took him as Gunnidhi. They prayed and worshipped him with devotion. The Muni, due to illusion did not disclose his identity, thinking that devotion towards him would suffer if the Shravakas knew the actuality. Afterwards, when the saint died, he was reborn as a deity. But due to the sin of illusion, he became an elephant in his next birth and was known as Trilokmandan. It was the same elephant, whom Ravan controlled under him. One is born in animal (Tiryanch) life because of illusion, therefore everybody should abstain from illusion and have the simple nature.