25. PLEASANT DISTRACTION DURING THE RELIGIOUS WALK

The path of a spiritual aspirant is never smooth. He has to be prepared for bouquets as well as brick bats, for roses as well as thorns, but he must never lose his equanimity of balance of mind. He must neither be depressed by one, nor elated by the other. Then alone he can reach goal. During the next twelve and a half year of Sadhana (spiritual apprenticeship), Bhagavan Mahavira had to undergo all sorts of sufferings, trials and tribulations, at the hands of gods, human beings and animals. The illustrations which follow depict some of those incidents. This illustration depicts how young men are attracted towards him because of the sweet smell and aroma that emanated from his body as a result of the application of heavenly perfumes and the women are attracted by his youth and divine charm. They are making amorous overtures to him. But Bhagavan Mahavira is completely oblivious to everything around him.