History of Jaina Monachism

SR No.: 001727
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute
Publication Year: 1956
Total Pages: 616
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Principle, & History
File Size: 12 MB

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66
S. B. DEO
Priyadarśanā from her.57 Then, at the age of thirty, he decided to renounce the world. So taking the permission of his relatives, Mahāvira renounced the world after tearing off his hair.
For the next twelve years he underwent a course of rigorous bodily mortification at the end of which he attained omniscience. Then for the next thirty years he led the life of a wandering missionary, and obtained Nirvana at the end of his life of seventy-two years,58 at a place called Pāvā.59
an 21
Death of Mahāvīra :
Scholars are not unanimous regarding the date of the death of Mahavīra. The traditional date given in 527 B.C.60
There arise serious difficulties, however, in accepting this date as it hardly makes room for the religious activity of Buddha who was said to be a contemporary with Mahāvīra, and whose death as fixed by scholars is 477 B.C. This means that Mahāvira died when Buddha was only thirty years old and had yet to get disciples.
Another date based on the Parisistaparvan of Hemacandra,61 comes to 467 B.C. to which both JĀCOBI62 and CHARPENTIER63 agree, as it can enable us to see various activities of Mahāvīra in relation to some other historical personalities, in their proper sequence.
C. J. SHAH and others, however, like to give it a bit wider range, i.e., C. 480-487 B.C., as it, according to him, "seems more reasonable and more in keeping with the contemporary historical atmosphere and with certain events of Candragupta's own life.”64
Instead of entering into details about these various theories, we may say that the traditional date cannot be relied upon, and, therefore, the dates as advocated in the last two theories may safely be accepted as they seem to be historically sound in the present state of our knowledge.
57. The Digambaras do not subscribe to this view. They say that Mahāvīra was not married
58. Ācār. SBE. xxii, pp. 189-202; Kalpasūtra, pp. 217-70. 59. Mod. "Pāvāpuri' in Patna District: GHATGE, op. cit., p. 415.
60. JACOBI, Kalpasūtra, Intr. p. 8; also Vicärasreni of Merutunga, quoted by SHAH, Jainism in North India, pp. 27-28. See also, K. B. PATHAK, who supports this date 1.A., XII, p. 21.
61. 8, 339. 62. JACOBI, op. cit., pp. 6ff. 63. CHI. i, p. 175. 64. SHAH, op. cit., p. 31.