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this material world, it is absolutely essential to strive towards
increasing and purifying the right perception. Mahasati Sita
must have surely done all this and is thus reborn as an Indra in
the 12th heaven ! There, too he got a chance to further purify
his perception by way of performing the first Janmabhisheka
of innumerable Tirthankara Lords.

Here, alongwith unflinching faith and love for Lord’s teachings,
the devotion for Lord also played a pivotal role in her rebirth
as an Indra.
Sage Tamali’s case :

Q. Sage Tamali was a Mithyadrishti. He did not possess any
devotion for either Lord or his teachings. Inspite of this he
was reborn as the Indra in the 2nd heaven- Ishan. There
suddenly how did he develop affection towards Lord ? He
did not possess such devotion in the previous birth.

A. Two things have to be taken into consideration here –

(1) Though Sage Tamali was a Mithyadristhi, he had
understood the real nature of Tirthankara Lords – free
from illusion and deceit and thus had developed a strong
feeling of affection towards him. Infact, because of this
strong affection he renounced his home and accepted the
life of a hermit.
The actuality was this – He realized that, “I have been a
prey to ignorance and deceit since times eternal. Not only
in the births of animals but also in the births of humans
in other countries, I have practiced selfishness and cheated
others. Now, in this holy human birth, if I continue doing
the same, then when will I worship God ? For that I have
to retire from this selfish world and go to the lonely
forests where I can peacefully devote and worship God.
Thinking on these lines, he had become a forest hermit.
48 Purity Purified