Mahavir(a) Vardhaman
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Contents |
The truth
Quest To Find The Truth
Sudhamahi Regunathan, Mahavira’s Quest To Find The Truth, March 29, 2018: The Times of India
At every step of his travels over 12 years, Sraman Vardhamana learnt a new lesson. There are unbelievable records of how he hardly ate, how he fasted for long periods, how his focus was only on finding answers. As he moved about in search of answers, his loin cloth, the only garment he was wearing, fell off sometime, somewhere and he did not even notice. He went about without any clothes, thereafter leading to a major contention that to achieve kaivalya one requires nudity.
Doing without
The process that Sraman Vardhamana followed was logical. He let one factor after another drop to see what affects free will. Circumstances, need, sense of shame, hunger and sleep are among the major factors that make us behave as we do. It is impossible to live without any of the above. And yet the idea was not to understand how to live without them but how to live best using these impulses ... how to channelise the emotions they provoke to the benefit of the self and everyone around.
Once an astrologer called Pusya saw his footprints by the Ganges and was struck by them. “These are footprints of an emperor,” he observed and followed them. It turned out to be a monk. “I am an emperor,” Mahavira is said to have replied. A chakravartin is so called because of the chakra, a miraculous drill and an umbrella in his possession. Sraman Mahavira’s chakra was his wheel of dhar ma. “Conduct is my regal umbrella and has the virtue capable of protecting entire humanity. Moral awareness is that miraculous drill which ripens a seed as soon as it is sown.”
No distractions
A veena player was about to commence his programme when Vardhamana walked by.
He was invited to the performance. The monk passed on as though he had not heard. Similar was his reaction to an evening of drama. Vardhamana knew a little distraction could completely throw him off. He was still trying to focus and had to keep a rather serious and no-nonsense approach to draw a truly objective conclusion.
So Vardhamana did not build an amiable image of himself. His body exposed to dust and heat and uncovered, did not get very positive attention. His penance was difficult to understand. Was he a madman or was he a realised soul? The question posed itself repeatedly to those who saw him.
Sraman Vardhamana was not aware of the reaction he was inviting. If dogs barked at him and people insulted him, Vardhamana saw in it a chance to test his tolerance. He also saw it as the dharma of the dog to bark ... he believed one should let the other living being practise its dharma without hinderance from others.
Truth is relative
He was still trying to figure out why a man would be mean to another man. How is it that we do not respect life wherever it is found?
In these thoughts the philosophy of anekanta, or the relativity of truth, began to unfold.
Teachings
Core message: ‘Live and let live’
Dhanpal Solanki Jain, April 13, 2022: The Times of India
Mahavir renounced his royal life and worldly relationships to seek samayika – equanimous state of mind, and lead an ethical way of life that would help him evolve to higher consciousness. He began practising Samya Yog, the yog of equanimity, and meditation. In the 12-year-long practice, he faced several ordeals, which he overcame with the understanding and practice of Samyak Darshan, right belief; Samyak Jnana, right knowledge; and Samyak Charitra, right conduct. All of this helped Mahavir attain Omniscience –Kevalya Jnana. Tirthankar Mahavir led a sociospiritual, non-violent reform movement, rejecting the caste system, gender bias, animal sacrifice and promoting equity of treatment. He set an example by liberating Chandanbala, a village girl, and showing her the path to eternal peace, purity, progress and spirituality. She became his disciple.
The Tirthankar contributed to the growth of scientific temper, literature, education and encouraged people to reject superstition and blind faith. He regarded all species of flora and fauna as integral to a composite community and emphasised the concept of aparigraha, non-possessiveness, to protect biodiversity from human greed.
Jainism gave to the world six concepts for life, such as: Asi, sword of defence, warfare; Masi, ink, arts, culture, writing and education; Krishi, representing settled agricultural way of life; Vidya, schooling, training and knowledge; Vanijya, trade and commerce, business; and Shilp, art, skill-work, handicraft. A fivefold mantra that is recited in Jainism offers obeisance not to God, but to arihants, perfect beings; siddhas, liberated souls; acharyas, masters; upadhayayas, teachers; and sadhus, seekers. Instead of waiting for some divine interventions, the individual seeker is encouraged to walk on the path of spiritual growth through his own effort, with the help of mantra-chanting.
Mahavir was also known as Jinendra. Besides being an epitome of ahimsa and compassion, he was also fearless and courageous, qualities that he felt were indispensable to promote ahimsa. These principles became an integral part of his lifestyle. For example, while doing penance, he would often go to the jungle alone and meditate. Once, while he was on his way to a hermitage, cowherds nearby warned him, “O mendicant! Do not go further. A dangerous snake by the name Chand Kaushik, is around. His eyes emit venom. Even from a distance, with a mere look, he can burn a man to ashes. ” Mahavir was not flustered at all, he continued on his journey and when he approached the serpent’s hole, he stood there in a state of meditation. His defiance infuriated Chand Kaushik, who first looked at the sun and then at Mahavir. Waves of venom from the snake spread far and wide, but Mahavir stood motionless. Now, the enraged serpent coiled itself around Mahavir’s body and started stinging him at various points. Mahavir continued to stand still and countered the effect of venom by radiating compassion and forgiveness. He had no feeling of enmity. Chand Kaushik soon surrendered and sought Mahavir’s forgiveness.
B
Bipin Doshi, April 4, 2023: The Times of India
Tirthankar Mahavir was a social and spiritual reformer.
He lived in an era when people performed plenty of rituals, sacrificed animals to seek favours from gods, believing in the presence of some supreme divine being, and in numerous superstitions. Exploitation of common people in the name of religion was rampant. Tirthankar Mahavir rose against these beliefs and practices, and gave some unique concepts regarding our soul, its true nature, journey, purpose, and its liberation.
Mahavir believed that to be aware of your own existence is spirituality. You are a pure being, but this purity is to be realised. Spirituality is essentially an individual effort. We live on biological, emotional, rational, moral and creative levels, which are imbalanced due to wrong beliefs and blind faith. Mahavir’s teachings are intended to help you cleanse the pollution existing in the practice of dharma.
The 24th Jain Tirthankar propagated that all souls are equal. Be it the one-sensed amoeba, or the highest being like Siddhas, Paramatma, all have equal qualities in their souls, infinite knowledge, perception, energy and bliss. All beings have infinite potential. It is this aspect which gives equal footing to all living beings. They look different due to their karmic coverings, but each one has potential to be like Paramatma.
Mahavir believed that you are the writer of your own destiny. Since your next moment depends on your past, you can alter your next moment or life too. Choosing the right course of action can help you understand the importance of free will and be the designer of your own destiny. Each soul is individual and independent. No soul is a part of some Brahmn, universal consciousness. Each and every being is on its own journey. Each one has to explore his own potential and reach his destination, wherein your own individuality is retained totally.
There is no creator God, nor any creation. If there is creation, there is destruction. If there is acreator, then who has created the creator? This is the crucial question raised by Mahavir. To him, there is no concept of submission to any divine being for liberation. Complete self-purification by following the path of right knowledge, right faith and right conduct leads to liberation. Mahavir laid great emphasis on right conduct. He wanted us to conquer two weaknesses: attachment and aversion. Attachment leads to selfishness and greed, whileaversion leads to hatred and anger. The highest standard of conduct meant the freedom from both and can be achieved only by self-efforts.
Existence is beginningless and infinite. Mahavir believed that there are no multiple gods to grant you favours or punishments: Your penance is instrumental in liberating you from your four passions like anger, ego, deceit and greed; and you are destined to become a super human being by yourself.
Finally, liberation is a state where soul is free from all karmic bondage, both auspicious and inauspicious, and enjoys eternal bliss. The liberated soul reaches the eternal abode of bliss, the Siddha Sila, from where there is no rebirth. The unique concept of Jainism is that the soul’s evolution takes place from ashubh to shubh; from shubh to shuddha, bad to good and then from good to pure.
The writer is a Jain scholar and physician Today is Mahavir Jayanti
Ahimsa
Acharya Lokeshmuni, Mahavira And His Teachings Of Ahimsa, April 17, 2019: The Times of India
Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most significant festivals of Jainism. It is observed to commemorate the birth of Mahavira, the 24th and last Jain tirthankara. A tirthankara is an enlightened soul who is born as a human being and attains perfection through intense meditation.
The teachings of Parshvanatha left an indelible impression on the young Vardhamana’s mind. When he was 28, his parents passed away and his elder brother Nandivardhana succeeded their father. Vardhamana craved freedom from worldly attachments and sought his brother’s permission to renounce his royal life. At the age of 30, he finally left home and embraced the ascetic life of a monk and later came to be known as Mahavira.
Mahavira spent the next twelve and a half years pursuing a life of hard penance to free himself completely of his basic attachments. He practised complete silence and rigorous meditation to overcome his basic desires. Ahimsa became an integral part of his spiritual life. He assumed a calm and peaceful demeanour and sought to overcome emotions like anger. He is the most compassionate one and willingly accepted hardships to burn his karmas.
Many incidents and stories reveal the character of Mahavira. Mahavira has said that, “Anger causes degradation of soul.”
A popular story talks about Mahavira and Chandkaushik (a poisonous cobra). On his way to village Vachala, where lived Chandkaushik, Mahavira heard that the people of the village near the forest lived in absolute terror. Mahavira stopped in the forest where Chandkaushik lived and meditated. Feelings of peace, tranquility and concern for the well-being of every living being flowed from Mahavira’s heart.
Chandkaushik, on encountering Mahavira, hissed in anger, but saw no sign of fear and this made him more angry and he blew poisonous venom towards Mahavira three times but still the tirthankara was in meditation posture. Now he was really mad and concentrated all his power and bit his toe. He saw white milk flow out of his toe. Then Mahavira opened his eyes and was so calm and compassionate. He looked at Chandkaushik and said, “Hey Chand, shant ho shant” and requested the cobra to overcome its anger and bitterness and instead, forgive and remain peaceful. Chandkaushik became calm and peacefully retreated back to his hole.
Peace and harmony in society come from the feeling of love and equality of all living beings. This is the concept of Mahavira’s concept of non-violence. The sole motive of Mahavira was to make this world a calm and peaceful place. His main principles were: Live and let live, ahimsa parmo dharma, belief in karma theory and that everyone has ability to become tirthankara. Samyag gyan, samyag darshan and samyag charitra this trio led Lord Mahavira to Kevalya Gyan, the attainment of omniscience, at the age of 42. Lord Mahavira devoted his life towards spreading his principles and Jain dharma among the people and gave discourses in local languages. He attained Moksha at the age of 72 in 527 BC and finally liberated from the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Lord Mahavira is said to be the founder of Jainism.
“Live and allow others to live; hurt no one; life is dear to all living beings,” said Mahavira.
