Written at Panitabhumi

Ganesh Lalwani’s poem is inspired by the account in the Ācārāṅga Sūtra of Lord Mahāvīra’s journey to Panitabhumi. The poet imagines seeing the Lord walking along a sun‑scorched road, bare‑footed and silent, with eyes full of peace. He marvels at Mahāvīra’s ability to endure extreme heat and hunger without complaint. The poem juxtaposes the harshness of the environment – the sun raining fire, the earth red and hot – with the serenity of the Tīrthaṅkara. As the poet watches, he feels his own inner agitation calm, and he expresses a desire to emulate Mahāvīra by burning away karma particles and bearing his own cross. He resolves to open the sky and windows, to make his eyes oceans of peace and to become a tree free from bondage. In the latter part of the poem he imagines standing at the gate of heaven, where he hears an ancient hymn and vows to cease harming even the smallest creatures. Lalwani uses rich, sensory imagery to convey both the physical austerity and the spiritual splendour of Mahāvīra’s example. He connects the historical narrative to his personal spiritual quest, demonstrating how stories from scripture can inspire contemporary practice. The poem is both a meditation on renunciation and a pledge to follow the path of compassion and restraint. It illustrates the way in which contemplative reading of scripture can lead to personal transformation and ethical commitment.

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