Good conduct is defined as the rejection of sinful activities. It is twofold: partial (desavirati) and total (sarvavirati).39 The five lesser vows (anuvrata), the three meritorious vows (gunavrata), the four disciplinary vows (siksavrata) are considered the twelve fold partial reduction. Among these, avoidance of injury, lying, stealing, impurity, and possessions in their grosser forms are called by the Jinas the ‘lesser vows.’ The three ‘meritorious vows’ are: the limitation of travel, the limitation of things of single and repeated use, and the limitation of purposeless injury. The four ‘disciplinary vows’ are tranquility, limitation to one place, fasting, and living like a muni, the distribution of alms. Continue reading “Sermon – Part 2” »

When there remained in the third spoke of time eighty-four lacs of Purvas plus eighty-nine fortnights, on the fourth day of the dark fortnight of the month Asadha, when the moon was in conjunction with the Uttarasadha constellation, the soul of Sri Vajranabha, after completing a span of life to the extent of thirty-three sagaropamas, fell from Sarvarthasiddhi and descended into the womb of Marudevi, the wife of Sri Nabhi, as a hansa would descend from Lake Manasa to the bank of the Mandakinis. Continue reading “Thirteenth Incarnation – The birth of Rsabha” »

“Reverence to you, O Lord of the Congregation, Protector of the World, Ocean of Compassion, O Lord, son of Sri Nabhi. O Lord, you are resplendent with the three knowledge’s, sense knowledge, etc., innate, like Mt. Meru with the parks, Nandana, etc. O God, this zone of Bharata today surpasses heaven, since it is adorned by you, the crest-jewel of the three worlds. Like you, this day is to be held in respect throughout samsara, purified by the festival of your birth kalyana, O Lord of the World. From the auspicious occasion of your birth, happiness arose even for the inhabitants of hell. Continue reading “Stuti” »

In youth the feet of the Lord were soft, red, like the inside of a lotus, warm, firm, free from perspiration, with smooth soles. As if for removing distress of those bowed (at his feet), the Lord’s cakra appeared, and the wreath, goad, and banner, like those of the elephant of Sri always present. The conch and the pitcher shone on the soles, and the svastika on the heels of the Master’s feet like pleasure-houses of Laksmi. Fleshy, round, high, like a serpent’s hood, the great toe of the Master was marked with a srivatsas, like a calf. Continue reading “Personal Description of the Lord” »

Then eight Dikkumaris living in the lower world, their thrones being shaken at once, came to the birth-house. Bhogankara, Bhogavati, Subhoga, Bhogamalini, Toyadhara, Vicitra, Puspamala, Abhinandita. After they had circumabulated three times the first Tirthankaras and his mother, and had paid homage to them, they said, “Reverence to you, Mother of the World, Giver of the Light of the World. We eight Dikkumaris, living in the lower world, have come here by his power to make a festival to him, knowing by clairvoyant knowledge the purifying birth of the Tirthankara. Continue reading “Birth Ceremonies” »

Then the Lady Marudeva awakened and related to Nabhi this meeting with the gods like a dream at night.

Since a bull was the mark on the thigh of the Lord of the World, and since a bull was seen first by his mother in her dream, the delighted parents named him ‘Rsabha’, with a festival on an auspicious day. Then the parents gave a suitable purifying name also, Sumangala, to the daughter born as his twin. Continue reading “Childhood of Lord Rishabhdev” »