This is a story about Lord Mahavir when he was a Muni. He used to fast, meditate and also perform penance. He was traveling from place to place, village to village.
Once, Lord Mahavir decided to go to the village of Vachala. On his way, there lived a deadly snake named Chandkaushik, a poisonous cobra. All the people of the villages near that forest lived in absolute terror. It was rumored that Chandkaushik could kill just by casting his evil glance upon a person.
When the villagers learned about Lord Mahavir’s intentions to pass through the forest, they tearfully requested him to follow another route.
Lord Mahavir had no fear and practiced supreme nonviolence. He had no hatred towards anyone and considered fear and hatred as violence of the self. He was at peace with himself and all other living beings. There was a glow of serenity and compassion on the Lord’s face. He didn’t deviate from his route even after listening to the warnings from the villagers.
After a little while he noticed the beautiful green land fading out and uninhabited, deserted and poisoned land came. Trees and plants were almost burnt out so he thought that this must be the land what villagers were talking about and here Chandkaushik may be living. So Lord Mahavir stopped here to meditate. Feelings of peace, tranquillity, and concern for the well-being of every living being flowed from Lord Mahavir’s heart.
Chandkaushik sensed that someone has come near his land, so he came out of his abode. He went in that direction and to his surprise he saw a man standing there. He got furious thinking that how dare he could come this close to his territory ? He started hissing to threaten Lord Mahavir, but he did not know the tranquillity of Lord Mahavir. He became angry and came closer to the Lord and swayed his head, ready to strike. He saw no sign that man would run away or even being threatened.
This made Chandkaushik more angry and he blew poisonous venom towards Lord Mahavir three times. Venom neither affected Lord Mahavir not Lord Mahavir was disturbed in his meditation. Chandkaushik was not ready to see no effect of his venom. Now he was really mad and concentrated all his power and bit his toe. When he looked at the man again he was flabbergasted that not only nothing happened to him but instead he saw Pure, white milk flowed out of his toe.
Lord Mahavir opened his eyes. He was calm and there was no fear or anger on his face. He looked at Chandkaushik in his eyes and seemed to be saying to him: “Understand, understand, Chandkaushik and realize where you are going !!!” There was love and affection in his eyes.
Chandkaushik became calm and he felt as if he has seen such person before. He suddenly perceived the special knowledge (Jatismarangnan) through which he saw what happened in his previous lives. Chandkaushik then realized the truth of life that what have anger and ego done to him. He bent his head down peacefully on the ground.
Lord Mahavir left. Chandkaushik peacefully retreated back to his hole. There he spent rest of his life in physical and mental peace. When he died he went to heaven.
Peace and harmony in the society come from the feeling of love and equality of all living beings. This is Lord Mahavir’s concept of non-violence.
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