32. GOD SANGAMA TESTS MAHAVIRA’S ENDURANCE AND COURAGE BY TWENTY SEVERE TESTS

To annihilate the remaining Karma Bhagavan Mahavira selected the most uncivilized regions inhabited by savages and aborigines. He arrived at place called Polasa-caitya. After observing fasts for three days, he started practicing the most severe austerity called Mahapratima, standing in the posture called Jina-mudra. Throughout the night, he stood motionless and absorbed in transcendental meditation. Indra, Who witnessed all this divine power, extolled and praised Bhagavan Mahavira and told the assembly of gods, “Nobody can equal Bhagavan Mahavira in meditation and courage” A god named Sangama became jealous and could not believe that a mere mortal could have such superhuman abilities and in order, therefore, to test Bhagavan Mahavira’s courage and endurance, he created by his supernatural power, ghosts, an elephant, a tiger, serpents and scorpions to frighten him. He kindled fire between his legs and cooked food over it. He brought divine damsels to distract Bhagavan Mahavira. But in spite of their alluring charms, they also could not disturb him. Ultimately, the god Sangama had to admit defeat and he goes back to heaven being crest-fallen.