Home » Spiritual Discipline of Mahavir Swami

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

In Nutshell :

14 lives as human, 10 lives as God, 1 Life as animal 2 lives in Hell.

Became Vasudev at 18^th birth and Chakravarti at 23^rd and finally at 27^th 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.