Mahavira his Times and his Philosophy of Life

SR No.: 006504
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Harilal Jain, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1977
Total Pages: 70
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, & Philosophy
File Size: 4 MB

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of Vaiśāli and at a distance of ten to twelve miles from Kuśinagara.
When lord Buddha was residing in Sāma-gāma in the Śākya territory, the message was coveyed to him, just within one day, that lord Mahāvīra attained nirvāņa at Pāvā. On this point there are available many references in Buddhist texts, and they have been duly noted above.
Taking all these facts into account, historians have arrived at the conclusion that Pāvāpura, where lord Mahāvira attained nirvāṇa, is really that village, Pāvā by name, near Kuśi-nagara in Devaria Distt. of U.P., which, at present, is known by the name Sathiyāva Fajilnagar where are available plenty of ancient relics and ruins. So from the historical point of view this place should be accepted as the place of the nirvāṇa of Mahāvira and be given the status of a worthy tirtha-kṣetra10.
13. Historical Contemporaries of Mahāvīra (a) Cetaka: Ruler of Vaiśāli
Details about king Ceṭaka of Vaiśālī are found in the Mahāpurāņu of Puspadanta, canto 5, as well in the Uttarapurāṇa, parvan 75. It is said about him that he was very famous, polite and a Param-ārhata, i.e., a great follower of Jainism. His queen was Subhadra-devi by name. He had ten sons: Dhana-datta, Dhana-bhadra, Upendra, Sudatta, Simhabhadra, Kumbhoja, Akampana, Patangata, Prabhañjana and Prabhāsa. Besides, he had seven daughters as well..
The eldest was Priyakariņi who was married to king Siddhartha of Kundapura, and they had the rare fortune of becoming the parents of Lord Mahāvīra. The second daughter was Mrgavati who was married to king Śatānika of
10 For detailed discussions on the place of nirvāṇa, see Kanhaiyalal, Pāvā-samīkṣā (Aśoka Prakāśana, Katara Bazar, Chhapra, Bihar, 1972). History and Culture of the Indian Peoples, Vol. II, The Age of Imperial Unity, p. 7, 'Malla'.
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