DURATION AND PLACES OF THE LONG, HARD PENANCE BY BHAGAVAN MAHAVIRA

Note:- As gold is refined through fire, the soul is perfectly and finally refined through penance based on forbearance. Such refinement is called refinement of inclinations. External purity is essential for such refinement which makes the body healthy, calm and steady, and the mind may also become pure to a certain extent, external purity also results into the refinement of inclinations. Thus external purity is the means while refinement of inclinations is the end. The end is as pure as are the means.

For both the purities mentioned above the Jain scriptures have prescribed rigorous practices both external and internal. Ordinarily, for external purity external rigorous practices and for internal purity internal rigorous practices are mostly prescribed. The external rigorous practices include (1) fasting, (2) consuming less food than required, (3) Limiting the desires for necessities of life, (4) being not carried away by tastes, (5) welcoming physical discomforts and (6) remaining engrossed in controlling the senses.

The internal rigorous practices include (1) penitence, (2) courtsey, (3) service to others, (4) studying scriptures, (5) meditation and (6) to get absolved and experience oneness with the soul while remaining steady in a physical posture leaving the attachment of the body.

The refinement of internal life leads to the subsidence of the evil attitudes of the senses which obstruct the finding out of the path of redemption. Not to disregard the rigorous external practices which are based on knowledge and discretion has been looked upon as compulsory so that evil desires may subside, the unsteadiness of the mind may be relieved, evil desire may be eliminated and violent actions may be avoided. It is still more essential to undertake rigorous practices so that our previous Karmas may be eliminated and we may achieve redemption through spiri- tual purity and refinement. The following table will give an idea about the parallel rigorous practices of both these types. Whatever facts available have been noted herein.

During the twelve and a half years and fifteen days of penance Bhagavan Mahavira neither sat with folded legs nor slept. Most of the practices were done while standing or by sitting on the front soles.

During the 4515 days of the 12 years and six and a half months he took food for only 349 days. The remaining 4166 days were days of fasting without food or water.

He wasted minimum time and maintained almost silence during this period of practice.

Though destined to be redeemed in this very life he undertook the most rigorous practices of penance and brought to the minds of the people that external rigorous practices are extremely necessary for redemption.

Non-Jain authors have admired Bhagavan Mahavira as a man of long penance- 'Deergha Tapasvi' because of his penance over a long duration while undergoing all suf-ferings and ordeals.

The rigorous penance in the form of fasting etc. observed by people of all the age groups is an outstanding, and Impressive characteristic of the Jain community which adds to its glory.

The Vedic and Bauddhist texts also enjoin penance and glorify its significance with the only difference that the Jains have continuously maintained its tradition intact on a vast scale in its difficult forms with all seriousness and discretion.