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esides that for his soul. He was unmoved by the heat of the approaching flames. He was busy quashing the ultimate fire,
the fore of rebirth. The flames reached him and scorched his feet. Even this acute pain did not reach the depth of his
tranquility. After some time the fire subsided on its own. (M-18/1)
Torture by Kalahasti
Leaving Chorak village Mahavir arrived at the outskirts of Kalambuka village. Two brother, Megh and Kalahasti ruled this
village. Although they were landlords and chieftains, they were still involved in unlawful activities like looting the neighboring
kingdoms, raiding passing caravans, smuggling etc. When Kalahasti saw Shraman Mahavir moving silently on a trail followed
by Gaushalak, he stopped them and asked. “Who are you”? He neither got a reply from Mahavir nor from Gaushalak.
He took them to be spies from some neighboring kingdom. Trying them with ropes, he tortured them inhumanly. When he
still could extract no information from them are ordered them, to be taken to his elder brother, Megh, for further torture and
interrogation.
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Shackled like criminals, they were produced before Megh, who felt as if he was looking at a known face. He suddenly recalled
that once he had seen prince Vardhaman at the court of king Siddharth. This shackled spy seemed to have an uncanny
resemblance with the prince. He came closer and recognized that the person in bondage was none else burring prince
Vardhaman who had become a Shraman. He fell at the feet of Mahavir and, with tears of repentance in his eyes he begged
to be forgiven. When released Mahavir resumed his journey. (M-18/2)
Among the Aborigines
It was the fifth year of practices of Bhagavan Mahavir. He moved into the Radh (or Ladh) country. This area was also known
as Vajra Bhumi or Shubhra Bhumi and was inhabited by scant and scattered population of rustic aborigines. Gaushalak also
followed Mahavir wherever he went. The people of this area did not know anything about ascetics and their ways. They
started in astonishment when they saw a naked person standing like a statue at godforsaken places. When they did not get
any response or even reaction on shouting at him, they would go irritated and hit with sticks lances, bones and stones. Some
others would slash with wet bamboo canes that left inflamed welts and bruises on his body. Shraman Mahavir equanimously
tolerated all these tortures and continued his advance toward purity.
He wandered from one place to another and once in a while came across small villages. Not so very often he would enter a
village to beg food and mostly got dry and stale food. However, most of the time he went without any food. People would
curiously stare at him and wild dogs would pounce on him and bite. For their crude entertainment, the aborigines would pick
up Mahavir and throw him on the ground. Mahavir never uttered a word of protest. He did not even gravely adverse
circumstances Mahavir spent almost five primitives. Under such gravely adverse circumstances Mahavir spent almost five
months in that area during his first visit. Once again, during the ninth year of his practices, Mahavir returned to this area for
about six months. (M-19)
Saving Gaushalak
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Once, while moving from Siddharthpur to Kurmar village Mahavir was passing through a dense forest. All of a sudden
Gaushalak saw a Tapas ascetic in an opening on one side of the trail. On closer observation he saw that the hermit was busy
doing some strange penance. He was standing facing the sun with his head hanging down and arms straight up. Long
strands of his hair were hanging on the ground like roots of some old banyan tree. Due to the heat of sunrays, small insects,
falling from his unkempt hair were writhing, and out of compassion, he was picking them up and putting them back in his
dense locks of hair.
Gaushalak could not control his laughter seeing strange activity. Jokingly, he said, “O abode of insects! What do you think
you are doing? You are gathering insects and considering this act to be a penance”. The hermit remained calm the first time.
But when Gaushalak did not refrain from making biting remarks, the hermit looked at him with his burning eyes and said, “O
vicious person! My name is Vaisyayan Tapas and I am the doom of ignorant fools like you”. Instead of jolting him to sanity this
scornful comment drew an insulting laughter from Gaushalak. The hermit now took a few steps back and angrily Tejoleshya,
acquired through long and harsh penance). Within no time a ball of fire rushed towards Gaushalak, who retreated with fear
and ran to Mahavir shouting in panic, “Sire! Save me. This Tapas will burn me”. Reaching Mahavir, Gaushalak fell at his feet.
Hearing the pathetic call of Gaushalak, Mahavir was moved. Turning back he saw the approaching fireball. From the
compassionate heart of Shraman Mahavir flowed a spontaneous stream of cool pacifying energy. When the nectar-glance of
Mahavir fell on the fireball it subsided. The angry hermit was astonished to see his powerful fireball extinguished. He
recognized Mahavir as a much greater and more benevolent power then he, and said, “Pardon me O embodiment of benevolence!
I did not know that this man was your disciple”. Gaushalak was saved from his imminent death.
Gaushalak was relieved. He asked, “Sire! What this abode of insects says”? Mahavir replied, “He was just going go turn you
to ashes with his fire-power. You were saved by my pacifying power. Do not disturb anyone in future”. (M-20)
Amar Muni - Tirthankar Charitra - Surana # 38
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