Sanmati Mahavira - Book Summary

This document, "Sanmati Mahavira" by Sureshmuni Shastri, published by Sanmati Gyan Pith Agra, is a Jain text dedicated to the life and teachings of Lord Mahavira. The provided pages offer a glimpse into various aspects of his journey, from his contemplative childhood to his eventual Nirvana.

Here's a comprehensive summary based on the provided pages:

Core Theme: Mahavira's Revolutionary Teachings and Life

The book portrays Lord Mahavira as a transformative figure who emerged during a time of societal and spiritual decay. He challenged prevailing norms, advocated for radical change, and ultimately offered a path to liberation through his philosophy and actions.

Key Aspects and Narratives:

The Need for Revolution (Page 9): The text begins by setting the context for Mahavira's advent. It describes a society overwhelmed by immorality, corruption, injustice, and exploitation. Religion, instead of being a guiding light, had become a tool for deception. In such a dire situation, a great soul was needed to awaken humanity.
Childhood and Early Contemplation (Page 10-11): Mahavira, even as a child, was described as contemplative and serious. He deeply pondered the state of the world, the misuse of religion, and the hypocrisy of religious authorities who were confined to scriptures rather than practicing righteous conduct. He observed the disconnect between knowledge and action, the prevalence of rituals over ethical living, and the societal injustice, particularly the discrimination against the Shudras. This led him to question the purpose of a life confined to material comforts and to aspire to break free from worldly attachments and illuminate the path for others.
Marriage and Household Life (Page 11): To prevent him from straying towards a spiritual path (which his parents feared), Mahavira was married to Yashoda, the daughter of a great feudal lord. They had a son named Priyadarshana.
Discontent with Worldly Pleasures (Page 12-13): Despite being born a prince with all the worldly pleasures at his disposal, Mahavira's mind was not drawn to them. The luxurious life, parental affection, fraternal love, and the devoted service of his wife and attendants could not satisfy his soul. He felt a deep inner dissatisfaction, realizing that true happiness lay elsewhere. The social, moral, and religious decline of India deeply troubled him. Witnessing rampant violence and selfishness in the name of religion, he felt a strong inner calling to transcend worldly suffering and bring peace and equality to the world. He resolved to gain self-strength to achieve this.
Empathy for the Poor (Page 14-17): The text recounts an instance where a destitute Brahmin, filled with despair and hunger, approaches Mahavira. The Brahmin laments his fate, his inability to provide for his family, and expresses hope in Mahavira's past generosity (referring to him as a "Kalpavriksha," a wish-fulfilling tree). Mahavira, though deeply empathetic, explains his current state as a renunciate, an "akinchana" (possessing nothing), and that he cannot offer material wealth. He advises the Brahmin to be courageous and face his struggles with valor. However, witnessing the Brahmin's intense suffering, Mahavira, moved by compassion, tears off half of his divine garment and gives it to the poor man. This highlights Mahavira's immense compassion even in his state of renunciation.
Patience and Forgiveness in the Face of Adversity (Page 18-20): Mahavira's spiritual journey was marked by numerous hardships and trials. He demonstrated an extraordinary ability to transform the "poisonous sting" of severe afflictions into nectar through equanimity. The text illustrates this with an incident where a cowherd, finding his lost cattle grazing around Mahavira, falsely accuses Mahavira of stealing them. Enraged, the cowherd attacks Mahavira with stones and sticks. Mahavira, however, remains in deep meditation, unshaken. His profound tolerance and peaceful demeanor astonish the cowherd, who eventually repents and seeks forgiveness. Mahavira, overflowing with unconditional love, blesses the cowherd, wishing him "Sanmati" (right understanding).
Self-Reliance and Inner Strength (Page 21-22): Mahavira's spiritual discipline was rooted in self-reliance and inner strength. He faced immense adversities and challenges during his penance, but he never sought external help. This emphasis on atmavalamban (self-reliance) is presented as the highest ideal of self-sufficiency.
The Triumph of Ahimsa (Page 22): The text mentions a significant victory for Mahavira's principle of Ahimsa (non-violence), which caused a stir in intellectual and public spheres, shaking the foundations of violence and leading to the widespread proclamation of "Ahimsa Paramo Dharma" (Non-violence is the supreme religion).
Service to Humanity (Page 23-34): After attaining Keval Gyan (omniscience), Mahavira dedicated thirty years to tireless public service, traveling extensively on foot. His core duty was nishkama seva (selfless service). The text emphasizes that his service was not driven by desire, curiosity, or self-interest but by his Tirthankar nature, which compels him to bestow his spiritual wealth upon all beings for their welfare. He shared his "nectar of immortality," his "nectar of joy," and his "nectar of knowledge" freely. He taught the path of nishkama karmayoga (selfless action) and served as a guide, offering solutions to societal problems.
Open Rebellion Against Violence (Page 34-36): Mahavira's era was characterized by animal sacrifices in religious rituals, justified by fabricated scriptures. He openly challenged this violence, declaring that violence can never be religion. He emphasized the inherent desire of all living beings to live, their love for happiness, and their aversion to suffering. He asserted that taking another's life is never a virtue; only protecting life is. His core message was: "Non-violence, self-control, and penance are religion." He stated that what one dislikes for oneself, others also dislike.
The Intertwined Nature of Truth and Non-violence (Page 36-41): The text highlights that Ahimsa and Satya (Truth) are the two wings of life. While Ahimsa is crucial, it cannot achieve its full potential without Satya. Likewise, Satya alone cannot lead to spiritual progress without Ahimsa. Mahavira stressed the importance of abandoning falsehood and speaking beneficial truth, acknowledging the difficulty in adhering to this principle. He described truth as profound, more so than the ocean, and stated that scholars who follow the path of truth overcome the ocean of worldly existence.
"Truth is God" and the Triune Nature of Truth (Page 38-40): Mahavira initiated a significant revolution by declaring, "Truth is God." He placed the divine within the individual's heart, advocating for its worship. He challenged the contemporary religious leaders who focused solely on verbal truth, neglecting the truth of thought and action. Mahavira emphasized that true truth is a confluence of three streams: the truth of thought (mind), the truth of speech (utterance), and the truth of action (conduct). He defined the true Brahmin as one who does not speak falsely out of anger, humor, greed, or fear. He advocated for the unity of mind, speech, and action for a life of truth and immortality.
Inner Purity and the True Bath (Page 41): The text explains that true spiritual purification is not achieved by external means but by diving deep into one's own soul. This inner bath in the "ganga of non-violence and celibacy" purifies the soul, leading to peace. True bathing is an inner cleansing, a mahasnan of the sages, which leads to liberation from karmic impurities.
The Role of Intellect in Determining Dharma (Page 42): When asked about the criterion for determining religious truths, Mahavira declared that it is human Prajna (pure intellect). Only the truth tested on the scales of intellect can lead to a bright future.
The Message of Hope and Transformation (Page 43-44): Mahavira's Sangha (community) and disciple tradition were instruments for spreading his divine message. The text concludes by stating that every soul contains the "seed of the Jina" (Enlightened being). Mahavira's message offers immense hope, suggesting that anyone can become like him, a Mahavira or a Jina, by realizing their inner potential.

In essence, "Sanmati Mahavira" presents Lord Mahavira as a revolutionary spiritual leader who championed Ahimsa, Satya, and self-reliance as the cornerstones of spiritual progress and societal transformation. His life and teachings were a direct challenge to the prevailing injustices and corrupt practices of his time, offering a path of inner purification, selfless service, and ultimate liberation.