RELIGIOUS SECTS OF THE HINDUS. 255 



fasts are particularised with great minuteness, as one of six months, 

 nine of four months each, twelve of one month, and seventy-two of half 

 a month each, making altogether ten years and three hundred and forty- 

 nine days. « 



The bonds of action were snapped like an old rope, and the Kevala, or 

 only knowledge attained by Mahavira on the north bank of the Rijupalika, 

 under a Sal tree, on the tenth of the light fortnight of Vaisakha, in the 

 fourth watch of the day, whilst the moon was in the asterism Hasta. 

 Indra instantly hastened to the spot, attended by thousands of deities, 

 who all did homage to the Saint, and attended him on his progress to 

 Apapdpuri, in Sehar, where he commenced his instructions on a stage 

 erected for the purpose by the deities, a model of which is not uncom- 

 monly represented in Jain temples. The following is the introductory 

 lecture ascribed to Mahavira by his biographer. 



" The world is without bounds, like a formidable ocean ; its cause is 

 action (Karma,) which is as the seed of the tree. The being (Jiva) 

 invested with body, but devoid of judgment, goes like a well-sinker, 

 ever downwards, by the acts it performs, whilst the embodied being 

 which has attained purity, goes ever upwards, by its own acts, like the 

 builder of a palace. Let not any one injure life, whilst bound in the 

 bonds of action ; but be as assiduous in cherishing the life of another as 

 his own. Never let any one speak falsehood, but always speak the 

 truth. Let every one who has a bodily form avoid giving pain to others 

 as much as to himself. Let no one take property not given to him, for 

 wealth is like the external life of men, and he who takes away such wealth 

 commits as it were murder. Associate not with women, for it is the 

 destruction of life : let the wise observe continence, which binds them to 

 the Supreme. Be not incumbered with a family, for by the anxiety it 

 involves, the person separated from it fulls like dn. ox too heavily laden. 



