Acharya Mahaprajna
-15-
Chitramkimatrayaditetrida-shaanga-naabhirNeetammanaa-gapimanonavikaara-maargam|
Kalpaanta-kaala-marutaachalitaa-chalenaKimmanda-raadri-shikharamchalitamkadaa-chit||
It is not surprising that your tranquility has not been disturbed whatsoever by the deity's damsels. Can the terrifying gale of doomsday which moves common hillocks, disturb even the tip of the great Meru Mountain?
-16-
Nirdhooma-varti-rapa-varjita-taila-poorahKrit-snamjagat-traya-midamprakatee-karoshi|
Gamyonajaatumarutaamchalitaachulaa-naamDipoa-paras-tva-masinaatha!jagat-prakaashah||
O Lord! You are an all enlightening divine lamp. A lamp needs oil and wick to illuminate and emits smoke. The Lamp of Lord's divinity needs neither wick nor oil. It is smokeless. A lamp emanates over a limited area. You light the entire universe. A gush of air extinguishes a lamp. Even the storm that moves mountains cannot extinguish your divine lamp.
In the praise of Adinath and appreciating his perpetual fortitude, Acharya Maantung exclaims - 'Lord! You conquered worldly attachments and became a Veetarag. Nothing can now attract you. Even the beauty of goddesses cannot distract your mind.'
It is not surprising to know that a person liberated from attachment is not subjected to any form of distractions. However, it is indeed surprising to find a person with attachments but not distracted by anything. By conquering the inner emotions, Lord Rishabh attained resolute patience and became steadfast. The intellect that regulates the mind is known as perseverance. Author of Niryukti says - Jassa dhiyee tassa saamannam; meaning- one who perseveres attains ascetic qualities. With unwavering perseverance, one can conquer attachment and overcome passions. There is a remarkable ethical statement - vikaarahetau sati vikriyante, yeshaamnachetaansi ta evadheeraah. This means - A person with patience does not get allured by any internal and external infatuation.
A person with patience does not get allured by any internal and external infatuation.
Understanding Infatuation
There are three distinct categories to describe the state of mind.
First category includes people who are allured at the first sight of infatuation.
Second category are people who do not get infatuated and thus are not allured.
Third category are people who do not get allured even after they come across the slightest sign of infatuation.
The first two categories of people are not difficult to find. However, it is rare to find those who do not get allured despite infatuation. Therefore, Acharya Maantung says - 'You are steadfast and that is uncommon. However, I am not surprised because I am looking at you beyond these categories. You have discarded the causes of infatuation. You have gone beyond the state of being influenced.'
State of mind can be described as either 'bhavit' or 'abhavit'. Human beings live in either of these states. There are people who get distracted easily. They have a flickering mind. That is known as being in 'bhavit' state of mind. Then there are those who are steady in spite of great distractions. Such people detach themselves from the influences around them and stay in a constant state of meditation. They are known to be in 'abhavit' state of mind.
Acharya Maantung acknowledges and appreciates the resolute state of Lord Rishabh. He says - 'You are a Veetarag and have vanquished all infatuations. In this state of mind, no stimuli can allure you and no infatuation can flicker your mind. This is not surprising!'
-15-
Chitramkimatrayaditetrida-shaanga-naabhirNeetammanaa-gapimanonavikaara-maargam|
Kalpaanta-kaala-marutaachalitaa-chalenaKimmanda-raadri-shikharamchalitamkadaa-chit||Clarifying this thought with an example, Acharya Maantung continues - 'Lord! We all know that wind, whether blowing violently or gently, can affect all living beings. A violent gust of wind can uproot trees and create mayhem, even move rocks and boulders. However, the question is - Can a violent storm shake the king of mountains Meru? No! Lord Rishabh, your perseverance is unshaken just like Mountain Meru. Your self-control on emotions is steadfast and mature such that no external stimulation can weaken it'
Increment of perseverance helps to strengthen the power to control the mind.
This shlok instills on us a profound spiritual fact that every person should strive to get victory over worldly attachments. This can be achieved only by immense perseverance and self-control, hence shielding them from any kind of stimulation. Increment of perseverance helps to strengthen the power to control the mind.
The Ever-glowing Lamp
Victory over attachment results in enlightenment. Attachment, aversion and passion generate tamoguna which conceals the light of inner self. On the contrary, victory over passion and Veetaragata results in enlightenment of inner self.
Acharya Maantung says - Lord! You are enlightened one, just like a lamp. But you are not an ordinary earthen lamp.' Earthen lamp is a common lamp which requires multiple means to light up and it difficult to say when it is may extinguish.
There are five basic facts known about an earthen lamp.
- One needs a cotton wick to light the lamp.
- Oil is essential in lighting it.
- Lamp will disseminate smoke.
- An earthen lamp has a limited capacity. It can illuminate confined limited space around it, not an entire house or a village.
- A slight gush of wind can extinguish the lamp.
-16-
Nirdhooma-varti-rapa-varjita-taila-poorahKrit-snamjagat-traya-midamprakatee-karoshi|
Gamyonajaatumarutaamchalitaachulaa-naamDipoa-paras-tva-masinaatha!jagat-prakaashah||He questions - 'How can I compare you with an earthen lamp? You are unique and exclusive for three specific reasons - You do not need an external fuel to light you, you do not need the support of a wick, and you do not emit smoke while giving divine light.'
A poet pondered over the reasons for all sources of light emitting smoke. Through self-introspection, he says -
Yaadrishambhujyatechaannam, pachyatejaiharaa-gninaa|
Pradeepenatamobhuktam, neehaaropi cha taadrishah||An outcome depends on what the input is. In case of a lamp, darkness is the input and hence it releases smoke in addition to light, which is the output.
Acharya Maantung explains the fourth cause of uniqueness as follows - 'Lord, you are the lamp with divine light because you are devoid of any flaw. You are able to transform darkness into light. You are the lamp that emits light using your infinite knowledge (kevalgyan) as the source. The light emitted from you is divine, all-encompassing and radiant, lord, you do not merely light your immediate surroundings but instead illuminate the entire universe. It is your limitless knowledge that makes you a unique lamp.'
The fifth cause of uniqueness is - 'Neither gust of wind nor violent storm which has the power to move mountains can blow out your light. Can an earthen lamp come close to this?' To attain the unique enlightenment, the above mentioned five-fold characteristics are essential for every spiritual person. The vision of spiritual uplifting of the soul is depicted in the following verse.
These shlokas are known as the 'Mahamantra'. They explain the pedagogy to enhance inner power and mental stability. In these shlokas Acharya Maantung gives the great message of perseverance, detachment, steadfastness and illumination. Practicing this 'mantra' can help in awakening the power of intuition and building strong self-control. Meditation of this pure divine light and practice of these two shlokas is a source of spiritual abundance.
