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INTRODUCTION
pot composed either consecutively or at the same time, Þut were composed, each one independently. Their order in the text is certainly fixed at a later stage. The 5th Dwā. is, as usual, a small one containing only 32 verses ; but it has, in brief, a very beautiful description of the householder's life of Mahā vîra, his forsaking of his home, his wanderings in the forest to practice penance, the greatest hardships he had to endure and the ultimate victory he gained over them, the divine knowledge he gained at the end of all these terrible sufferings, and his propagation and preachings of Jaina religion. In short, the whole of this Dwā. though small is a very charming biography of Lord Mahāvira. It appears to be a pretty little poem by itself, '
In all these ealogistic Dwá. the main theme is the praise of Lord Mahāvīra and his unsurpassed excellence. It is interesting to study the manner in which Siddhasena has brought out clearly the supreme excellence and the peerless greatness of Lord Mabā vira. Looking from this point of view, we see that the excellence of Mahāvīra has been brought out by the author in the following four ways : -
. 1. By the description of the matchless beauty of
his person? as is found mentioned in Jaina
tradition ; 2. By the description of the miracles ( referred to
in tbe Jaina tradition) that were worked by Lord
Mahā vîra ; I Dwa. 1. 14.... 2 The episode of Camarendra 2. 3. Sangama Parisaha 5. 18.
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