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His body was naked. He wore no clothes. Insects bit him. Mosquitoes stung him. Ants bit him. Flies moved on his body. Mahaveera was not even aware of all this. He inflicted no pain on the insects or plants. They too have life like us. Inflicting pain on living beings is wrong. People laughed at his naked form. Some made fun of him. The riff-raff cried them hoarse. Mischievous fellows began to whistle. The ignorant beat him. The wicked hurled stones at him. Mahaveera did not protest. He forgave them all. His patience was UN-limit. He did not complain that he suffered pain. He did not turn round on them. He did not abuse them, or curse them. He did not say a word to them.

Days and weeks were passed. He used to observe the vow of silence for months together. He was lost in thinking about the, soul. He did not mix with the people. Some abused him. Some bowed to him. Mahaveera treated both equally. He was not angry with those who blamed him. Nor did he show favor to those who bowed before him. Nothing could disturb his mind. Many spoke to him. They asked questions. Mahaveera did not break his long silence.

He ate a very small and limited quantity. He had no vessels with him. He was naked. He was empty-handed. How was he to eat? The hand itself was his vessel! Mahaveera followed very strict rules about his food. He did not want to trouble any one on his account. He would not touch food, which was specially prepared for him. Food, which makes the senses, sharper was not for him. He did not want a sumptuous meal. He ate only once a day. And then he would not have even a drop of water till mealtime the next day. He was very strict even on his rounds seeking food. While walking he would closely observe ten feet of the ground before him. He did not want ants or insects to be crushed under the feet. He would touch no food if he saw a hungry crow. He fasted if he chanced to see a thirsty animal. He would go back it a cat or dog crossed his path. Sometimes, because of such rigorous rules he used to fast for twelve days continuously. Fasts of six to seven days' duration were countless. A month's fast too became a matter of course. He would accept food only in houses to which he was invited with love. Cottage and palace he treated alike. He was satisfied if the family was vegetarian - or even it there was a single vegetarian preparation. Cleanliness, and not taste, was important. He ate very little. How was he to eat even that much? Seated comfortably? Sifting on a plank or mat? In a silver or gold plate? All these have no place here. He used the vessel that he had brought with him at birth - his hand. He stood as he ate. Those offering food had to do so gladly. Whatever they could offer was enough. He had no rules about the quality or the quantity of the food. Those offering food had to stand before their houses and pray Mahaveera with devotion to accept bhiksha. If he stopped it was a sign of acceptance. First they washed his feet at the doorstep.

Then, when he entered the house, they poured water on his hand. After washing his hands he would place his right palm on the left palm, still standing. The right palm was itself the cup, the plate and the spoon. People who offered food did so in morsels placing each morsel in the palm. Mahaveera would examine it with his fingers to see it there were hairs or insects. It there was an insect or a hair in the food, he ended his meal at once. He would wash his hands and leave silently. He fasted on that day. And then he would go out seeking food only the next day.

For six months after ordination, he ate nothing. It was a long fast. Only after that he went for bhiksha (food offered by devotees). The chief of Kulapura gave the first bhiksha. Mahaveera spent 12 years 5 months and 15 days in tapas. During this period he had food only 349 times. Mahaveera would not stay in one place for a long period. He used to move like mercury from place to place. He used to remain in a village only for a day. He spent four days in a town and ten days in a forest. Only during the rainy season he would live in one place. This is called chathurmasayoga. Mahaveera spent his very first chathurmasa in Asthigrama. This town is in Bengal now and is known as Burdwan. Mahaveera had no anger, pain or pride. And no greed whatever. His mind was always at peace. Like the sky Mahaveera depended on no one and needed no help. He was majestic like the ocean and gentle as the moon. What fear has a man who has given up everything? On the outskirts of Asthigrama isShoolpani Mandir. No one used to go near it at night. Even during the day people was afraid to go there. The reason was that there was an evil spirit in that Mandir. Mahaveera camped in that Mandir itself. The evil spirit gave him much trouble. In the same way he spent chathurmasa in places like Siddagrama, Vaishali, Vanijagrama and Shravathsi.

The path of this kind of tapas is very difficult. Many are the obstacles. In North India some sanyasis were creating havoc. Their gang troubled Mahaveera also. But by his self- discipline Mahaveera overcame the obstacles placed by them.Mahaveera's trials did not end here. He had to face two other difficult trials. He stayed in Shravathsi for the eleventh chathurmasa. There he was troubled by a man called Sanghamakha who had fallen into evil ways. He tormented Mahaveera for months, following him everywhere. He disguised himself like a disciple of Mahaveera. He committed thefts in houses. He got caught willfully and lied, saying 'Mahaveera sent me'. People cursed Mahaveera as a false Guru. They punished him. Sanghamakha did not stop at all. When Mahaveera started for bhiksha he cowed like hungry crows. He came in Mahaveera's way when he was eating. On another day when Mahaveera went for bhiksha Sanghamakha posed like a beggar and deprived him of food. On another day he mewed like a cat from the kitchen just as Mahaveera was about to put the morsel of food in his mouth. Thus Mahaveera burned in the furnace of difficulties. Fie shone like pure molten gold. Sanghamakha was totally defeated. He ran away afraid to show his face. Mahaveera came to Ujjaini. On its outskirts was a fearful burning ground called Athimuktha. No one dared to stop there. It was evening when Mahaveera came there. He had to spend his night in that place. Mahaveera began his prayers. Total darkness descended. Immediately there was thunder and lightning. Thunderbolts roared. Wild animals surrounded him. Lions and tigers roared. The cries of cheetas would have made anyonetremble. Scorpions moved all round. Snakesmoved about with raised hoods. But Mahaveera did not break his great silence. Terrifying masks appeared. But Mahaveera did not fear even for evil spirits. Day dawed. Mahaveera had spent the fearful night calmly.

Mahaveera spent his twelth chaturmasa at Kaushambi. Here he undertook a fast known as Abighraha. On the day of breaking the fast he started for bhiksha. He heard a call, "Oh! Great saint! Stop." That was the voice of a woman appealing to him. He turned to where the sound had come from. She was Chandane, the daughter of King Chetaka. She had remained unmarried and led a life of purity. She had firm faith in Jainism. She had suffered much and was in rags. But she was rich in piety. She had no milk or ghee; not even fruits. Chandane gave him thick rice which had been boiled. Mahaveera accepted it with joy. Chandane’s joy knew no bounds.

Mahaveera proceeded further. He reached the village Jrumbhika. The river Rujukoola was flowing nearby. Mahaveera sat under a tree. Immersed in medition and prayer he forgot the world. It was the second month of summer. It was the year 557 B.C. According to the Indian calendar, it was the tenth day of the Indian calendar, it was the tenth day of the first fortnight of Vaishakha. The afternoon was declining and the shadows were eastward. Mahaveera was in the Paryankasana posture. He attained Divine Knowledge. This is the attainment of the Highest Knowledge – enlightenment that enables one to know everything. Mahaveera became a Thirthankra. At the time Mahaveera was 41 years 9 months and 5 days old. There is no drought within a radius of four hundred miles from where a Thirthankara lives. He moves so as not to hurt any living creature. He has only one face, but people looking at him see four faces on all the four sides. He knows all branches of knowledge. His body does not throw a shadow. His eyelids do not move. His nails and hair do not grow.

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