Dear Sadharmik brothers and sisters,
Jai Jinendra!

Today is the fifth day of Parvadhiraj Paryushan Parva. We remember Trishla Mata’s 14 dreams and do Janma Vaanchan of Bhagwan Mahavir. Dr. Kumpal Desai will take us through the birth celebration, the brightness experienced by the whole world due to the birth of Vardhaman, and the positive changes Bhagwan Mahavira brought in our lives.

We will also learn the 5th Jiv Vichar gatha that talks about Sthavar jiv and the next two types of karma under the Karma Theory in Jainism Series.

We are glad to get your amazing response for daily lectures by Drs Kumarpal Desai, Jitendra Shah, and Bipin Doshi. You can listen to their past lectures or tune in to today’s lectures. Details are mentioned below.

Sincerely,
Mahesh Wadher
JAINA President

Gatha 5th

भोमंतरिकूख-मुदगं ओसा हिम करग हरितणू महिआ|
हुंति घणोदहिमाई, भेयाणेगा य आउस्स||

In this stanza, the second type of sthavar jiva i.e. Apkaya jiva are defined and explained.

Apkaya jiva are living beings that have water (in any form) as their own bodies, also known as water bodies. The possible forms of water bodies are stated below:

1. The water of wells, reservoirs, ponds, lakes, river, sea, and other sources of water
2. Rainwater
3. Other forms are dew, ice, hailstones, fog, mist, etc
4. Ghanodah i.e. A thick layer of water below every earth and some heavenly bodies
5. Water oozing out of plants and leaves
6. All other forms of water are also categorized as water bodies

On the fifth day of Paryushan, we read, from the Kalpasutra, the second of five auspicious events in the life of Bhagwan Mahavira – The Birth. (The first being conception). The providential event of the birth of Bhagwan Mahavira was like the dawn of Ahimsa, Truth, Restraints, Aparigraha, and Anekant on the earth. Birth of Bhagwan Mahavira also became the cause for the joy and welfare of all in all the three realms – Earth, Heaven, and Hell. Just as a precious pearl deep in the sea, queen Trishla was carrying Vardhman in her womb. The queen was caring for her ward with the utmost care while enduring the enormous pain of gestation joyfully.

At approximately six and a half months of gestation, Vardhman began to consider the pain his growing body was giving to his mother. How could my arrival be a source of even slightest discomfort to anyone? My mission in life is to uplift all living beings. It is not at all proper for me to be causing my mother pain by my movements.

With that thought, the unborn inside mother Trishala’s womb became still. Trishla’s pain subsided but her mental anguish suddenly rose. Trishla began to wonder if her creation was stolen or dissolved. King Siddharth became worrisome. Mother Trishla fainted. At that instant, embryonic Vardhman, through his clairvoyant knowledgeability, saw his mother and father in distress. He surmised that what was intended for joy instead resulted in pain.

Just as a fish wiggles in a pond, the embryo moved, and the mother smiled. Her whole world became joyous. This event made a great impression on the blessed soul. He came to appreciate the limitless love a mother has for her son. Even though I am still inside her, she has not even had a glimpse of my face, she is drowning in love for me. To spare them the pain of separation, I decide today that I will not accept monkhood during their lifetime. Thus, before his birth, Bhagwan gave us the message of obeisance to motherhood.

The auspicious birth event of Bhagwan Mahavira is on the 13th day of the month of Chaitra but on the fifth day of Paryushan, the description of Bhagwan’s birth from Kalpasutra is read and also listen to the description of the fourteen dreams of Bhagwan’s mother recharge our spiritual batteries. The birth name of Bhagwan was Vardhman – constantly growing. The one who grows Spiritually is Jain. Let us examine the new brightness experienced by the whole world due to the birth of Mahavira.

He opened up the scriptures to the common man. During his lifetime religious knowledge was presented only in the language spoken by the Gods – Sanskrit. It was considered an esteemed language precisely because the common man could not understand it. To discuss religion and its essence in a low language of the common man was considered a contemptible act. No one listened to the common man with his ordinary language and was not considered cultured. Some said such discussion of important subjects can only be carried out in a prestigious and hard to understand language.

The first step Bhagwan Mahavira took was to revolutionize language. He said knowledge is not reserved just for knowledgeable people. It is also for the common man. It should be palatable to the common man and should be given in his language, so he preached in the language spoken at that time in the kingdom of Magadh – Ardha Magadhi. He started to reveal the secrets of social life and religion. People found pride in their language and thereby spruced up their self- respect. The preaching by the “Pandits” was a burdensome and a hollow message to the common man. It was no longer necessary to accept Pandit’s word as an authoritarian voice from the scriptures. Mahavir’s preaching was easy to understand by all and it opened the doors of enlightenment to everyone.

To provide equality to women, Mahavira implemented two new reforms. He introduced Brahmacharya (celibacy) as an important attribute in man and second, monkhood for women as freedom from all restraints imposed by society. He removed the shackles of gender, caste, and sects and instead gave importance to their character.

He pulled the lower caste people out of the dark realms they were relegated to and validated their humanity. People of all genders or social status can embrace religion, he said. In other words, he pronounced a religious person as the one who did not hold pride in his lineage, his physical body, caste, gender or knowledge, etc. This was a great social revolution by Bhagwan Mahavira. He transformed society.

The truth that sprang from the deep recesses of the soul took hold in society. Bhagwan Mahavira expressed his views fearlessly and firmly. He freed people from the yok of violence and mental torture.

He rescued the society imprisoned by the blind class-oriented dogma. Totally revolutionized the concept of higher class and lower class. He slew the concept that a woman is under the authority of her father during her childhood, her husband in adult life, and son in old age. Cast or gender is never an obstacle in self-enrichment.

As souls, all souls are equal. A Brahmin or a Shudra; man, or a woman, young or old, rich or poor whoever makes an effort is entitled to Moksha (Heaven). To emphasize equality, he ordained Chandanbala as his first female disciple. He freed people’s dependence on favors from heavenly God (deva) and luck and preached self- efforts as key to success and said, “Heavenly God may be great and whatever the Heaven maybe, but no one is higher than man. If a man retains his humanity, God will be in his service!”

For this reason, man must rely on Truth and love. Every man achieves his greatness from his work, his character, and his efforts. For this gender or lineage etc. are useless attributes.

Bhagwan Mahavira saw Brahmacharya (Celibacy) as separate from Parigraha-Virman (freedom from possessiveness). Brahmcharya is just not acceptance or rejection of external items - it is internal restrains. Similarly, he pronounced Tap (austerity) as one and only tool for shedding Karmas thereby establishing Tap as of utmost prestige.

Thus, Bhagwan Mahavira freed people from mental slavery. Gave importance to Efforts instead of reliance on luck. He proved that purposeful efforts were superior to relying on dogma. Dispelling age-old beliefs and blind following he gave prominence to independent thinking. He encouraged fearlessness of searching the truth.

- Dr. Kumarpal Desai

7. Gotra Karma :

This Karma has two types - higher and lower. That pudgala (matter) by the power of which, one attains to a higher family is higher ‘gotra karma’ and that pudgala (matter) by the power of which, one is condemned to a lower family is called lower ‘gotra karma’.

This Karma is like a potter. Just as a potter makes utensils of various types from the same lump of clay, similarly only one body (i.e. the same body) has experience of various types on account of this karma.

How is this Karma formed?

Lower ‘Gotra Karma’ is bound by showing pride and vanity in any one or more of these eight - caste, fruit, strength, beauty, penances, knowledge, gain, and lordliness. By not showing pride in all these things, higher ‘Gotra Karma’ is formed.

The fruits of this Karma are as follows:

By higher ‘Gotra Karma’ one reaps good things. He gets birth in a happy, prosperous, and cultured family. He acquires beauty, strength, and wealth. By lower ‘Gotra Karma’, he gets the opposite of the above, viz., he gets birth in a lower caste and family. He also suffers poverty, disease, ugliness etc.

8. Antaraya Karma:

The pudgala (matter) creating an obstruction to active power is called ‘Antaraya’ (Obstacle) Karma’. This Karma is like a treasurer. The institution or the owner may have sanctioned the amount to be given, but that amount can be collected only when the treasurer gives it. Similarly, the soul has infinite powers and qualities, but they are obstructed by this karma. This karma has 5 varieties.

How is this Karma formed?

This Antaraya Karma is bound (1) by becoming an obstacle, when somebody is giving charitable gifts, (2) by coming in the way of somebody’s gain; (3) by stopping somebody’s food and drink; and (4) by stopping somebody from the performance of religious mediation, etc.

The fruits of this karma

On account of this Karma, the person cannot give charitable gifts, cannot make gains, cannot enjoy various enjoyments, and cannot worship god.

As long as the soul is concerned and connected with eight karmas (Jnanavaraniya, Darsanavaraniya, Vedaniya, Mohaniya, Ayusya, Nama, Gotra, and Antaraya) and their sub-divisions, the rebirth connected with these eight karmas and their sub-divisions, the rebirth of the soul goes on.

Rebirth means the constant movement of the cycle of life and death

Source: www.jinalaya.com

Listen to today's lectures by Dr. Kumarpal Desai in Gujrati, by Dr. Jitendra Shah in Hindi and by Dr. Bipin Doshi in English. For the schedules and joining details please visit:
https://www.jaina.org/page/ParyushanMahaparv2020

With the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Jain Centers across the country are having to cancel their planned activities for the 2020 Paryushan Mahaparv. In the absence of these activities, JAINA has coordinated many virtual events for you to participate in. We are offering daily lectures and virtual Samvatsari Pratikaman for Deravasi, Sthanakvasi, and in English for participants in East, Central and West Timezones

There is no need to register for Deravasi, Aloyana or Sthanakvasi Pratikramans. To join just click on the below link which will take you to the JAINA website where you need to select the event you want to join.

If you have any questions please call Mahesh Wadher at 909 376 4027 or email to Mahesh.Wadher@gmail.com

Click Here to Attend Lectures and Samvatsari Pratikamans

Due to COVID-19, we have to celebrate the auspicious festival of Paryushan and Das Lakshana at home unlike every year at the Jain centers. JAINA is organizing the below-mentioned virtual Pratikramans and Aloyana on Zoom for people to take laabh from home. Kindly forward this message to everyone so they can join.

Jivdaya during Paryushan is the most important of the 5 duties of a Shravak. That is the reason the first day of Paryushan is devoted to AMARI PRAVARTANA - a vow to not indulge in the violence of any kind. We express our acceptance of that vow by contributing to the Jivdaya fund.

Click to Donate

Mail your Donations in favor of JAINA to :
Ashok Savla (JAINA Treasurer),
8843 1/2 Longden Avenue, Temple City, CA 91780