Fasting led to feasting with Lent culminating in Easter last week. It marked Christ’s climactic choice of self-denial for the sake of others. A Jain story of fasting for another’s deliverance comes to mind from the life of Mahavira Swami, the 24th and last Tirthankara. In the 12th year of his spiritual life he came to a garden in Kaushambi, capital of the kingdom of Vats. On the first day of the dark half of the month of Paush, he took a vow. ‘‘I will break my fast only when I accept alms from a starving, shaven-headed princess-turned-slave in fetters who offers me green gram with both smiles and tears,’’ he announced, to the consternation of the people. Meanwhile, King Dadhivan ruled the fair kingdom of Anga (of which Karna was once king). He lived in his capital, Champa, with his queen, Dharini, and daughter, Vasumati. Once while he was away with his army to help a neighbouring king, King Shatanik of Kaushambi attacked Champa. Shatanik’s general, a maharathi or great charioteer, was one Kakmukh, who fancied himself a ladies’ man. He imprisoned Queen Dharini and Princess Vasumati. When he tried to violate the queen, she killed herself. When her daughter threatened to do the same, Kakmukh had a sudden fit of repentance. He begged the princess to come home with him as a daughter. But since his wife objected, he sent Vasumati to be sold in the slave market. In the auction, a courtesan proved the highest bidder for the princess, who, however refused to go with her. At that point, Dhanavan, a rich merchant, came by and was greatly impressed by the staunch principles of the princess, even in her helpless condition. He bought her for a thousand gold pieces and took her home. Dhanavan’s feelings were strictly paternal and Chandana (sandalwood), as he called Vasumati for her cool, fragrant beauty, proved an ennobling influence on his household, inspiring good behaviour in all — except his wife, Mula. At an opportune moment, when he was away, Mula dressed Chandana in rags and imprisoned her in the cellar. When Dhanavan came home, he found everything locked up and nobody at home. But hearing Chandana’s cries, he brought her out in her shackles, left a stray basket of green gram with the starving girl and went to fetch proper food and a blacksmith to knock off her fetters. Five months and twenty six days after he began fasting, Mahavira encountered Chandana at the very moment. When she met his eyes, such joy flooded Chandana that she forgot all her sorrows and tried to stand, smiling in welcome. But Mahavira turned away! The poor girl began to cry. At this, he turned back, for all his conditions were met. Chandana’s fetters fell off and the Mahashraman broke his fast at last.
