Jivan Shuddhi Ane Bhagwan Mahavir

This is a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text "Jivan Shuddhi ane Bhagwan Mahavir" by Sukhlal Sanghavi and Bechardas Doshi:

The text equates "Jivan Shuddhi" (purity of life) with Bhagwan Mahavir himself, stating they are two names and forms of the same essence. Jivan Shuddhi is described as a subtle concept grasped by imagination and intellect, while Bhagwan Mahavir is the tangible, living embodiment of this purity that even the gross eye can perceive.

The author emphasizes that the purpose of listening to Bhagwan Mahavir's life during this "Savvatsarik day" (annual day of introspection and purification) is to look into one's own past life and identify the "dirt" that has accumulated. True fulfillment of this Savvatsarik day, the text argues, is not measured by the number of such days passed but by the inner introspection it facilitates. A single such day in fifty years of life, it suggests, makes the remaining forty-nine successful.

The text critiques the common reaction to Bhagwan Mahavir's life, particularly the "upasargas" (afflictions) he faced and the presence of deities. It notes that people either marvel at these events with awe or dismiss them with disbelief, but in both cases, they remain "small" themselves. The crucial point, according to the author, is that this approach fails to extract any practical benefit for our ordinary lives from Mahavir's life.

The author asserts that Mahavir's greatness does not lie in divine arrivals, miracles, physical beauty, or other extraordinary phenomena, as these can also be found in other great beings or even worldly individuals. Instead, the true, extraordinary element that connects with us and forms the basis of his greatness lies in the internal battles he fought.

The text vividly describes these internal struggles: the storms of the mind, the heavy winds of fear, the weakness of succumbing to desires and breaking vows. It mentions "Sangam" (a symbolic representation of temptations) appearing to test Mahavir, the allure of past pleasures manifesting as fire, and the sounds of worldly distractions entering through the "windows of hearing" opened by Mahavir to listen to his own inner vows. The true significance of Mahavir's life, the author states, is in how he overcame these challenges without faltering, ultimately achieving victory.

The author argues that we experience similar "upasargas" in our daily lives, whether in religious places or marketplaces. The difference is that we fail to recognize these internal struggles within ourselves, choose not to see them, and do not strive to overcome them. Mahavir, on the other hand, did. This is why, the text concludes, Mahavir achieved life, while we are losing and continuing to lose it.

The text then addresses the common tendency to focus on external details of Mahavir's life – his parentage, caste, age, family, wealth, departure from home, travels, encounters, miracles, and influence over kings and followers. While acknowledging these facts can be interesting, the author stresses that the true value lies in introspection. By deeply examining how the events of Mahavir's householder and ascetic life are unfolding in our own lives, we can uncover the true meaning behind the miracles and divine events.

By doing so, we will recognize Mahavir's "self-existent greatness," which doesn't require external adornments or miracles. As this necessity diminishes, we move closer to Mahavir's life and the Savvatsarik festival. The author states that while we may observe the Savvatsarik festival outwardly, we are not truly participating in it because we are not engaged in "Jivan Shuddhi."

The text concludes by linking Jivan Shuddhi with national service and sacrifice. It suggests that by demonstrating our readiness for sacrifice and service to the nation, we can prove our life's purity. The path of the Savvatsarik festival, echoing Mahavir's Jivan Shuddhi, is vast enough to bring both spiritual and worldly well-being. The author challenges the reader to consider how much they can develop Jivan Shuddhi through national service, asserting that the perceived opposition between national duty (activity) and life purity (withdrawal) is a misconception. The only question remaining is whether one is willing to make the effort, a decision that, according to the text, determines the life and death of the Jain community.