Compassionate Bhagwan Mahavir - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Compassionate Bhagwan Mahavir," based on the provided pages:

Overview:

"Compassionate Bhagwan Mahavir" by Purnachandravijay, published by Diwakar Prakashan, is a picture storybook that chronicles the life and previous births of Bhagavan Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankar in Jainism. The book aims to illustrate that the exalted status of a Tirthankar is achieved through prolonged spiritual efforts and penance across numerous lifetimes. The narrative is based on the "Trishashthishalaka Purush Charitra" by Acharya Hemchandra Surishwarji.

Key Themes and Narrative Arc:

The book emphasizes Bhagavan Mahavir's core teachings of compassion (daya), equanimity (samata), self-restraint (sanyam), non-possession (aparigraha), and non-violence (ahimsa). The narrative structure is designed to show how these qualities are cultivated over vast periods of time through repeated lives, illustrating the principle that significant spiritual attainment requires immense dedication and perseverance.

Previous Births and Development of Virtues:

The book details several significant previous births of Bhagavan Mahavir, showcasing the gradual development of his spiritual qualities:

Nayasar: A generous and simple forest guard who, after showing hospitality to ascetics and listening to their teachings, attained the first glimpse of right perception and was reborn as a god.
Marichi: Son of Emperor Bharat and grandson of the first Tirthankar Rishabhdev. Marichi initially accepted asceticism but later modified the strict vows for personal comfort, demonstrating a flawed approach. His pride and boasting about his lineage are highlighted.
Vishvabhuti: Born as a prince, he experienced betrayal and injustice from his cousin. His anger led him to waste the fruits of his penance, seeking revenge rather than spiritual growth. This highlights the importance of overcoming anger and negative emotions.
Triprishtha Vasudev: A valorous prince who became a Vasudev (a powerful warrior-king). His encounters with an arrogant emissary and a fierce lion demonstrate his strength. However, his anger towards a negligent attendant, leading to the attendant's death by pouring molten lead into his ears, shows a lapse in compassion, leading to a hellish rebirth. This emphasizes that even great strength can be detrimental without proper control and compassion.
Priyamitra: A generous and compassionate prince who became a Chakravarti (emperor). He dedicated himself to serving the poor and worshipping ascetics, undertaking rigorous penance for millions of years.
Nandan: Born as a prince, he was deeply moved by the transient nature of life, leading him to asceticism and intense penance. He acquired the Tirthankar-nama-karma through twenty auspicious practices.

The Birth of Bhagavan Mahavir:

The being destined to become Mahavir descended into the womb of Devananda, a Brahmin woman. However, due to divine intervention by Indra, the fetus was transplanted to the womb of Queen Trishla, wife of King Siddhartha, who belonged to the Kshatriya (warrior) clan. This ensures that a Tirthankar is born in a royal family, as per Jain tradition.
Queen Trishla saw fourteen auspicious dreams, which were interpreted by astrologers as signifying the birth of a divine being who would lead the world towards peace and upliftment, becoming a Dharma Chakravarti or a Tirthankar.
Mahavir was born in Kshatriyakund on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra month, in 599 B.C. His birth was accompanied by divine light and celebrations by gods and goddesses.
He was named Vardhaman because of the increasing happiness and prosperity in the kingdom since his conception.

Childhood and Early Demonstrations of Strength:

Vardhaman displayed remarkable bravery and skill from a young age. He was tested by a god who transformed into a serpent and then a terrifying demon. Vardhaman's fearlessness and strength were evident when he effortlessly dealt with these challenges.
He earned the title Mahavir (Great Hero) after he subdued a disguised god who had transformed into a demon to test his courage.

Renunciation and Ascetic Practices:

At the age of 30, after the passing of his parents, Mahavir sought permission from his elder brother, Nandivardhan, to renounce worldly life. He agreed to wait for two years before his great renunciation (Diksha).
During his period of penance, Mahavir endured immense hardships and tests:
- Humiliation and physical pain: He tolerated the stings of bumblebees, received abuse and stones from villagers, and endured freezing cold without complaint.
- Tests of patience and non-attachment: He allowed animals and birds to disturb his hermitage and bore the pain of thorns hammered into his ears by a cowherd (who was a reincarnation of an attendant from his past life as Triprishtha Vasudev).
- Confrontation with spiritual disturbances: He faced the demon Shulapani, who tried to frighten him with various terrifying forms, and the serpent Chandakaushik, who bit him. In both instances, Mahavir's unwavering compassion and equanimity transformed the aggressors.
- Endurance of Sangam's torments: A proud god named Sangam subjected Mahavir to severe physical and mental tortures for six months, including dust storms, animal attacks, flames, and being crushed by a giant wheel. Mahavir remained steadfast, demonstrating unparalleled patience and self-control.
- The vow of accepting alms from Chandanbala: Mahavir undertook an incredibly difficult vow to accept alms only from a pious princess named Chandanbala, who was in a state of extreme distress, shackled, and starved. The fulfillment of this vow, with Chandanbala's inherent purity shining through her suffering, highlights Mahavir's profound understanding of karma and compassion.

Attainment of Omniscience (Keval-jnana):

After twelve years of rigorous penance, Mahavir attained Keval-jnana (omniscience) and Keval-darshan (omniscience of perception) on the tenth day of the bright half of Vaishakha, under a Sal tree by the Rijubaluka river.
He then established the four-fold Jain religious order (Sangh) consisting of monks (Shraman), nuns (Shramani), male lay followers (Shravak), and female lay followers (Shravika).
His first discourse emphasized the root cause of suffering as untethered desire and craving, advocating for non-violence (Ahimsa), truth, and good conduct.

Key Disciples and Interactions:

Indrabhuti Gautam, a renowned scholar, initially approached Mahavir with skepticism but was convinced by his profound knowledge and logic, becoming his first and chief disciple (Ganadhar).
The book also details Mahavir's interactions with other disciples and common people, illustrating his teachings and their impact.
The story of Gaushalak, a former disciple who later claimed to be an omniscient Tirthankar, is recounted, highlighting Mahavir's ability to counter falsehoods with truth and the consequences of anger.

Nirvana:

On the fourteenth day of the dark half of Kartik, after his last discourse, Bhagavan Mahavir attained Nirvana (liberation) at the age of 72 in Pavapuri.
His Nirvana is marked by a divine glow and the darkness that enveloped the world for a moment. The festival of Dipavali (Diwali) is said to have originated from the lighting of lamps by humans and gems by gods to dispel this darkness.
Upon hearing of Mahavir's Nirvana, his chief disciple Gautam was overwhelmed with grief. However, he eventually realized that Mahavir had sent him away to break his attachment, enabling him to attain Keval-jnana himself.

Metaphysical Concepts (Pages 71-72):

The latter pages of the book delve into core Jain metaphysical concepts:

The Universe: It is described as an uncreated, eternal entity, neither created nor destroyed. Its shape is likened to a human figure, symbolizing the microcosm reflecting the macrocosm.
The Six Substances (Shad Dravyas): The universe is composed of six eternal substances:
- Jivastikaya (Living beings/Souls): Possessing consciousness.
- Pudgalastikaya (Matter): Non-living, inanimate.
- Dharmastikaya (Principle of Motion): Facilitates movement.
- Adharmastikaya (Principle of Rest): Facilitates rest.
- Akashastikaya (Space): Provides accommodation.
- Kala (Time): Causes change and modification.

Conclusion:

"Compassionate Bhagavan Mahavir" serves as an inspiring narrative that traces the spiritual journey of a soul striving for ultimate liberation. Through detailed accounts of Mahavir's past lives and his final incarnation, the book underscores the Jain principles of compassion, equanimity, and non-violence as the path to spiritual enlightenment and Tirthankarhood. It highlights the immense dedication, resilience, and profound understanding required to achieve such an exalted spiritual status.