13. CHAPTER -XIII

CHAPTER -XIII
“Dhyan magan ho socheta, mukti kamini sang Nij Gun de Arihant Prabhu, Badha Rahit Nisang”

Mahavira Bhagwan who has given up all the worldly possessions and who is expecting peace from the liberated soul (Mukti Rupi Laxmi), who has devoted himself to meditation, I bow to him. May he grant his qualities to me.

Though Mahavira was capable of keeping fast for six months but with a view to teach the mendicants how to take food he decided to take his food. This food gives strength to the body. Mahavira was travelling after taking care that not even the smallest creature may die under his feet. Without considering whether one is rich or poor he went out from one place to another in search of donor who could provide him pure & hygienic food. He was travelling with normal speed in search of donor who could provide food with dedication and from the core of his heart. He reached into a Kool town and its king was Kool. The king Kool considered himself fortunate to see that the Bhagwan Mahavira was coming towards his palace in search of food. He paid his best regards to him after lying down on the earth. Thereafter with most respectfully and pleasently he requested him to stay there for food.

Then king Kool said to him that pure food is available from pure mind, words and body. When the Bhagwan Mahavira agreed to accept his food, he carried him to his palace to offer him food. He gave a piece of wood to sit on. Then he washed his feet with pure water. The pure water which was left after washing his feet, he and his family applied it on their foreheads with great respect. Then he worshipped him. Again he repeated that his food is pure from his heart, words and body. Thereafter, the Bhagwan stood up for taking food in the hands. It is worth mentioning here that the munis take food, water, fruits in the hands for eating or drinking. They do not use any utensil. The king and his family were again and again considering themselves most fortunate to get the opportunity to offer him food. The king and his family offered him kheer. He was thinking that the Bhagwan had come to his palace, hence his palace was purified. They were thinking that they had earned a lot of Punya. He was not expecting any worldly or heavenly possessoions in lieu of offering him food. He suspended all his affairs simply because he got an opportunity to provide food. Due to donation of the food, the celestials were very happy in the heaven to see the donation of kheer to the Bhagwan. They showered diomonds, rubies, and precious jewels on the palace of king. Bands, bugles, trumpets and other miscial instruments were blowing in the heaven to celebrate the donation of Kheer to Mahavira, the Bhagwan. They were praising the king for his donation. They were stating that due to donation of Kheer, the king will get all the comforts and salvation in future.

That place is the most fortunate and luckiest where the Bhagwan goes and puts his feet. His palace was filled with jewels, diamonds and gems. Those who recommend the donation of food to the Bhagwan they also earned Punya. Thereafter Mahavira returned to the forest. He travelled to various villages, cities for giving his preachings and to communicate about the religion. He went to mountains, caves, forests, in grave yards and on the bank of the river and engaged himself in meditation. He used to keep fasts for six months also. Sometimes he used to give up taking salt or sugar or green vegetables or curd or milk etc. He used to sit down under the tree in rainy season, and even when there was thundering of clouds, he remained in meditation. He used to sit in open on mountains and in caves for meditation in the early morning in winter season or at noon in summer season or in the grave yard at night. He won over his actions which were his enemies and hinderance in getting salvation. He controlled the incoming of karmas from his meditation. He engaged himself in six type of external meditation and six type of internal meditation. He was like a fire which could burn incoming of karmas. He controlled his five sense organs such as eyes, nose, ears, mouth and skin. He did not want to become slave to these organs. An eye wants to see the beauty of woman. The elephant is caught when it falls down in a pit when it wants to intercourse with she-elephant (which is built of paper). Deer or snake is killed when its ears want to hear the sound of trumpet. A black bee dies when its nose wants to smell a flower and the flower is shut down at night. Our mouth always wants sweet things to eat.

He controlled the requirements of his five organs. He was taking food without salt, ghee, milk or sugar. He left hearing songs etc. He was not a slave of five organs. He kept fast for many days together. He used to take food, water and milk only once in a day.He adopted five Mahavarats (1) Ahimsa (2) Satya (3) Achaurya (not to steal any thing and even not to take water or earth without permission) (4) Celibacy or Brahamcharya (control on sexual desires) (5) Aparigrah. This is why mendicants remain naked and don't keep any thing with them. He adopted five carefull Samities (1) Irya path ( to wallk very carefully so that not even the smallest insect dies under the feet). (2) To speak words which are useful to others? Words should be sweet and they should look nice to others ( Bhasha Smiti), (3) Careful of taking food etc. (while eating the food and water it should be checked minutely and thoroughly (4) Take care of picking and putting down any object after cleaning and sweeping (5) Vyutsarg (renunciation of egoistic thoughts). He adopted three preservation (1) control on his mind (2) control on his words (3) control on the moments of body.

He was very careful about all his activities so that any wrong thing should not appear even in his dreams. He adopted the most sacred character. He reached in Atti Mukti grave yard of Ujjain town. It was the most dreadful grave yard. He sit there in meditation like a mountain after giving up the attachment from his body with a view to get liberation (Moksha). On seeing the patience of the Bhagwan, Ruder Mahadev named Sathanu reached there to disturb his meditation. In the middle of the night he stood before him after making fearful widened eyes. He was speaking loudly as if he was completely out of control. He was showing his sharpened teeth. He was singing and dancing with a view to disturb his meditation. He was having sharp and fearful weapons in his hands and his mouth was opened to frighten j him and showed his forbidding structure.

He did his best to disturb his meditation, but there was hardly any effect on Mahavira Bhagwan and his meditation remained continued as it was.When Sathanu Ruder failed in his mission, he converted himself into scorpion, lion, elephant, fire, started disturbing air and made a lot of noise, by these animals, still there was no effect on his meditation.He stood still like a mountain.Achariya remarked that mountain could change his place but the Bhagwan's meditation could not be changed. When Sathanu Ruder completely failed in his mission of disturbing his meditation, he felt shy. Then he worshipped the Bhagwan and praised him. He said that you are the greatest teacher of the universe. You are the strongest and unshakeable person on the earth; hence you are correctly called “Mahavira”. You are like mountain Kool. Your forgiveness is better than that of earth. You are more seriousMAHAVIR PURAN than sea. You are more kind hearted than water. You are the most intelligent person of this universe. Hence you are rightly called Sanmati. After admiring and praising the Bhagwan, Sathanu Ruder worshipped him and returned back to his place along with his Demons. When the demons and she-demons worshipped the Bhagwan, then religious persons would automatically worship the Bhagwan with their full devotion and dedication.

Story of Chandana
Chandana who was the daughter of king Chetak was strolling in the forest. A Vidiadhar kidnapped her. But when frightened by his wife he escorted Chandana to a forest. A king of Bhil came there and he carried her and sold her to a rich man of Kaushambhi Town for handsome money. His wife was Subhadra. She thought that she is a beautiful lady and she will be another wife of her husband. Fearing that her value will bediminished, she thought to torture her. She gave her stale Rice (kondaka bhat) in earthern pot. Thereafter, she tightened her with iron chain. She was peacefully tolerating all the tortures. She was always engaged in religious activities. She was thinking that these are the days of her miseries. Miseries or good days are never ever lasting. Change is the law of nature. Hence she was hopeful that she would have good days also.

Once, Mahavir Bhagwan came to Kaushambhi town for taking food. On seeing the Bhagwan her chain was automatically broken. She became free from chain and she went to see him. She bowed before him and requested him to accept her food.

Due to her good moral conduct that rice (Kondoka Bhat) automatically became superior quality of rice. The earthern pot converted into golden pot. When fortune favours then one can get those things which appears to be impossible. All the desires are automatically fulfilled when star favours. With due respect, she worshipped the Bhagwan and offered him the rice. Immediately after donating food and due to her supreme wholesome karmas there was a rain of jewels and diamonds in her town and she got five astonishing goods. She also got her family which was separated from her. The most precious things are easily available by donating food to the medicants and sages. Due to her donation of food to the would be Tirhankar she became reputed throughout the world.

Mahavira Bhagwan mostly observed silence. He travelled from place to place for 12 years to give religious teachings to the human beings. He reached in a village named Jrumbhika and sat on a precious rock built of gems and diamonds. He started meditation and fast to procure the infinite knowledge. (Knowledge; involving awareness of every existent of its present, past (pre-birth) and future (after birth) in all its qualities and modes). He adopted eighteen thousand amulets (armour or kavach) which signified his good moral conduct. He treated his ornaments to eighty four lakhs supreme qualities. He adopted five great vows of mendicant and twelve reflections in his life. Meditation was his chief armour.He was having right faith in Jinender Bhagwan and in his preachings. In the evening of tenth day of Shukal Paksh in the middle of hast and utra planet and in auspicious yoga he got the Kevaljnana, after winning over his karmas. On learning that Mahavira Bhagwan got Kevaljnana the celestials started blowing biguls, drums & bands of various types. The sky was covered with the planes of celestials. They were celebrating the festival of his Kevaljnana. There was a rain of flowers in the sky. Inder along with his celestials worshipped the The Bhagwan whole heartedly.

Cold and fragrant breeze was blowing. The throne of Inder started shaking. The treasurer celestials (kuber) started fabricating the Samosarana.Mahavira Bhagwan who won over his passions and procured the supreme qualities of Kevaljnana, who provides peace and happiness to the living beings and who is omnipresent like a crown on the head, I worship his qualities and achievements.