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The
life of Lord Mahavir His efforts, His impact and his past lives
Lord
Mahavir had renunciated this world in 629 B.C. He was on the path of
restraint and discipline (sanyama) to attain self-realisation. Lord
Mahavir knew that there is a bondage, stronger than that of strong
silk ropes or that of strong steel ropes. He knew that there is no
bandage stronger than that of body. He therefore gave away the love
for body. He carefully deployed the passions to inner realization. He
asked his monkey – like mind to be involved in religions
activities. In order to destroy the karmas, he himself went to the
land of uncivilised people. He willingly and happily, went through
all the anger, abuses, attacks done by ignorant people and stood
against the battalion of all kinds of attacks. He never refused to
face all the 22 kinds of endurance with equanimity.
The Sadhana (efforts) means
Lord
Mahavir had a goal before him to make people totally free from
miseries. Unhappiness and sins. He had to collect a strength for this
purpose, Therefore, he carried out a life of great sufferings by
observing most difficult vows for not less than twelve and a half
years continuously. During his sage life, there were 4166 fasts
without food and water. All these fasts were sometimes in a sequence
of continuous six months, sometimes five months and twenty five days;
sometimes two months, sometimes a month and a half, sometimes one
month, sometime fifteen days, three days, two days etc. During all
these years, he never took food for two days consecutively nor even
twice a day. During these days, his endurance against all kinds of
external attacks were continuously present be if by his past disciple
Goshalak, or by his shepherd or by God sangam or by goddess katputna
(Veantari) or even by a great poisonous snake Chand kaushik or by
those people who prepared milk-sweets by burning fire between his two
legs. The Lord had undergone all these sufferings with a firm mind of
endhrance in a very neutral way. He never thought that one who makes
harassment is guilty. He did not even make any reactive movement. And
thus he came out with the great purity of mind.
Achievement of his Efforts
One would wonder, how a man made of bodily
limbs can endure all these? These are two possible answers to this
questions. One his height of knowledge was at the peak. He was deeply
engrossed in the stream of meditation. His consciousness was very
very powerful. In falt he was not living at the lever of bodily life.
Second, he had adopted a view of being harsh to oneself but being
subtly soft to all other beings. HE therefore had not to make any
conscious efforts to endure all such sufferings. This came to him so
naturally;
What do the efforts of Lord Mahavir mean?
Improve yourself before you improve the
would.
Undergoing
very vigorous penance to cut out the love for body.
Total
engrossment in meditation for cleanliness of mind/heart.
Loneliness
for peace of mind –more and more emphasis on silence .
Very
short sleep in order to be completely awakened (He slept only for 48
minutes during a long period of 12 and a half year)
No
love for what is our liking no hatred for what is not our liking.
Total
rejection for dual feelings such as happiness, Unhappiness, liking,
disliking etc.
Total
destruction of the Ego-centric feelings and enjoying the sweetness
of only self realization.
What did the Lord achieve with His efforts ?
He achieved the virtues like tolerance,
fearlessness, love compassion, non-violence, pardon, totally giving
up of mohā, etc. during this period, by his efforts. All these
virtues were imbibed into himself. He presented a set of series of
virtues and ultimately attained the Ultimate knowledge (Kevalgyan).
Due
to the achievement of his efforts.
Due to the achievements his efforts. He became a
Tirthankara at the age of 42/2. He was known as Jina, Arihant, Vitrag
and Tirthankara. The men folks came to him to bow down to his feet.
The kings were pleased, the Gods and Indras also recited the songs of
his praise. The kings of people came to his service. Thirty four
ATISHAYA were presented; his speech became best with 35 best
qualities. The violent animals / birds also became quiet. There was
an end to the people’s sins and sorrows. The people at large got
love, joy, happiness.
Past 27
lives of Lord Mahavir
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Sr.
No.
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What
was his life
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Duration
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Other
details
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1.
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Naysar
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-----
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He
got the first samayakatva of this life in west Mahavideh.
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2.
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A
God in Saudharma Haven
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One
Palyopam
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He
enjoyed the God’s living.
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3.
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Marichi
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84
Lakhs purva (innumerable number)
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He
became a grand son of Lord Rishabhdev. He also became a Tri-dandi
saint. He talked bad, Had the pride of his family. All this
resulted in getting the birth in lower spicie.
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4.
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God
in Brahamlok
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10
sagaropam
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He
enjoyed god’s living.
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5.
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Kaushik
Brahmin
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80
Lakh purva
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At
kollak village. Took a Tri-dandi dress. Went through a no. of
small & bad lives moved in this world.
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6.
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Pushpamitra
Brahmin
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72
Lakhs purva
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Became
a Tri-dandi in Sthuna town.
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7.
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God
in Saudharma Devlok
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Midium
Position
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Enjoyed
God’s living
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8.
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Agnidhyat
Brahmin
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60
Lakhs purva
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Became
a Tri dandi sage at Chaitya village
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9.
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God
in the Ishan Devlok
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Medium
position
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Enjoyed
god’s living.
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10.
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Agni
Bhooti
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56
Lakh Purva
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Became
Tri dandi sage at Mandir village.
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11.
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God
in Sanatkumar Heaven (Devlok)
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Medium
position
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Enjoyed
God’s living
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12.
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Bhardvaj
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44
Lakhs purva
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Became
a Tri dandi at swetambi town
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13.
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God
in Mahendra Heven
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Middle
position
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Enjoyed
God’s living. Therefore wandered in many small lives.
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14.
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Sthavar
Brahmin
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Middle
Position
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Became
a Tridandi in rajagaruhi
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15
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God
in Brahmin Heven
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Middle
Position
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Enjoyed
God’s living.
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16.
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Prince
Vishva Bhooti
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1
Crore years
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Became
a monk. Faught cow. Had an un fulfilled desire. Died on continuous
fasts.
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17.
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God
in Mahasukra Heven
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Best
position
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Enjoyed
best life of God.
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18.
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Triprusth
Vasudev
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84
Lakhs Years
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Had
a bondage of Nilkacht karmā, due to putting of hot lead in the
ears in Potampur.
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19.
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Taman,
Taman in Seventh Hell
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33
sagaropam
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Had
also miseries of Hell in the seventh Madhvati Hell.
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20.
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Lion
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__
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Had
a no. of lives even after a birth as lion in Tiryanch yoni (Animal
sect)
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21.
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Pank
Prabha 4th
hell
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-
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A
number of birth after the birth in Hell.
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22.
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Prince
Vimal
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-
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Very
kind person Renuciated the world had very hard penance and fast
upto death.
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23.
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Priyamitra
Chakravarti
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84
lakhs purva
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Renunciated
the world at the hand of Pottilacharga. Had Penance of one crore
years.
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24.
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God
in Mahasuk Heven
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17
Sagaropam
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Enjoyed
God’s life.
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25.
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King
Nandan
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25
Lakhs years
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Had
a great penace of 20 Sthanak Top with 1180, 640 months fast. Here
he could ensure of becoming a tirthankara by great penance.
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26.
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God
in Pranat Haven
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20
Sagaropam
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Enjoyed
God life in the Pushpohara Vatansak aircraft
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27.
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Lord
Mahavir Or Prince Vardhman
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72
years
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Born
in Kshatriya Kund (Bihar) father Sidharth
Mother Trishlamata. Became 24th
Tirthankara had a great sadhna of twelve and half years Got
Ultimate Knowledge at the age of forty two and half years. Died in
Pavapuri. Attained Moksha.
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In
Nutshell :
14
lives as human, 10 lives as God, 1 Life as animal 2 lives in Hell.
Became
Vasudev at 18th
birth and Chakravarti at 23rd
and finally at 27th
birth as Tirthankara Lord Mahavir
The
ignorant people got good knowledge, the violent villain and sinful
people became non-violent and they became true human beings. Thus who
were true human beings and were on right path, attained samyaktva
pure vision for life. The learned people preferred to renunciate the
world; and with a lot of efforts they attained knowledge achieved the
right path and thereafter there were infinite achievement and also
attained mokshā. In present era also Jains are prosperous and happy.
Their
contribution to Non-violence to this world is remarkable Jain
religion stands firm with unique due to the great impact of Lord
Mahavir who is the main source of this mane grace and fame of
Jainism.
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