Study of Jainism

SR No.: 001748
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 1988
Total Pages: 252
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Philosophy
File Size: 13 MB

Page 58

Other Tirthankaras
described in the Vedic literature, Now Aristanēmi left the city and went to the garden named Raivaka, removed all the valuables and clothes and took to Sanyasa. Sri Krişna was overwhelmed with love and admiration for his cousin and said, “Damiávara, may you attain the highest perfection early". 18 On his wandering in the quest of perfection as a Pravraja, he was offered 'pūraņa' in city called Dvdravati by the king Varadatta.18 He wandered about in Sourdşğra and practised penance. According to Svetambura canonical literature there is the description that Aristanēmi remained for 54 nights and days in meditation. He attained the enlightenment on the new-moon day of asvin on the mountain called Saciaya. Ācarya Jinasena mentions that the attainment of kēvala jñana (bodhi) was on the pratipada (1st day) of the sukla pakṣa of Āsvin.20 He became the enlightened one. He preached the Dasadharma to the people in the samavasaraņa. Thousands of devotees including princes and kings, like Balarama took the vow of Sravaka dharma. Sri Krisna celebrated the occasion with great pomp and dignity. Arişğanēmi established the four orders, the tirtha consisting of (1) Sramana (monks), Sramani (nuns), Sravaka (Lay followers) and Sravika (Lay Women followers). Some of the prominent scholars in those days became his desciples. Ganadharas were to carry the tradition of his teachings to the lay followers. Some Svetambara scholars and Digambara tradition mention eleven Gañadharas of the tirthankara Aristanēmi. 21 Acarya Bhadrabahu says in the Kalpa-sūtra that Tirthankara Ariştanēmi had 18 Ganadharas and 18 Gaņas, of which they were heads. The organisation of Gana and Gaņadhara was very useful for the propogation and of the teachings of the tirthankara and the preservation of the organisation of the tirtha in its purity and intact. The organisational excellence could be discerned in the gana and ganadhara. Tirthankara Ariştanēmi moved from place to place and preached the religion of ahimsa and aparigraha. Many princes and their friends were over whelmed by the nobility of the teachings and they accepted the life of pravraja (renunciation). Padmavatidevi, the chief queen of Sri Krişna was moved by the teachings of Ariştanēmi and took the vow of pravraja 22 Then, Tirthankara Ariştanēmi was camping at Dvaravati. The other queens of Sri Krişna like Gowri, Gandhari, Satyabhama and Rukmini took the vow of samyama (self-control). One day Sri Krişna went to