A hermitage at Kanakkhal near the township of Vacala
was managed by a Rsi called Kausika. Some boys repeatedly damaged the
fruit trees and flowers of the garden of this hermitage which angered the
Rsi very much. Once when the boys were seen damaging the fruit trees. Rsi
Kausika chased them to punish, but stumbled over something, fell in a
nearby well and died on the spot. Story says that as he died when he was
full of anger he was born at that very place as a deadly poisonous serpent
whose breath as well as sight emitted poison which would kill all living
things on which they were thrown. The result was that people ceased to
frequent that place and the hermitage was converted into a deserted mess
of wild shrubs and trees.
Once Mahavira during his wanderings, was going towards
�Vacala' and was found passing by the way which was going to the abode of
the above referred poisonous serpent who was known by the name of �Canda
Kausika' (angry Kausika). People warned Mahavira not go by that way and to
take another alternative way to avoid an encounter with the serpent. After
hearing the story about the serpent, Mahavira decided to pass by the same
way to the astonishment and dismay of others who persuaded him to take the
other way.
On seeing a daring human being coming towards him,
Canda Kausika became furious at his audacity and emitted deadly poison
from his breath and sight. When this had no effect on the peace and
equanimity of Mahavira, the serpent became more furious and rushed to him
to inject him venom through his poisonous fangs on one of the toes of his
bare legs. When the serpent tasted the blood, coming out of the injured
toe, he found its taste somewhat different than usual (mythology says that
it was sweet milk and not human blood which flowed from the toe). Mahavira
was all compassion and love for the violent creature and hence it was but
natural that his compassion which ran through his blood had a different
effect on the violence of the unfortunate creature. Mahavira had developed
a short of communion with all objects of the universe and it was for this
reason that he could see life even in the earthly objects such as earth,
air and water. He, therefore, could easily communicate with the disturbed
soul of Canda Kausika -- "Be aware, Canda Kausika, be aware of what you
were and what you are", he said. Under the influence of graceful divinity
and compassion of the Yogi like Mahavira, Canda Kausika was reminded of
his past life and realized to what depth he had fallen. He repented and
adopted a non-violent peaceful attitude which resulted in people taking
revenge to kill him. His spirit was however purified and he is said to
have trans-migrated to much higher level of life.
