Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism

SR No.: 006576
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S N Shrivastava
Publisher: Rekha Publication Gorakhpur
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 162
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 8 MB

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A Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism
married the fact that the early texts like Āchārānga Sūtra and Kalpasūtra mention his marriage with Yasodã of kaundinya gotra leaves no room for doubt in his regard. It is stated in these texts that Mahāvīra had a daughter named Priyadarśanã also called Anojja from Yasoda. Proyadarsana's marriage and her daughter named Yasovati are mentioned in early Jain texts but is only in late Jain texts like Avasyaka Churni,28 Kalpasūtra Vritti?" and Uttaradhyayana Vritti that Jamali is referred to as her husband who is said to have led a nihnava in the life time of Mahāvīra.
Both Acharanga Sūtra and Kalpasūtra inform us that Mahavira lived the life of a householder upto the age of thirty. After the death of his parents and seeking the permission of his elder brother he renounced the worldly life and embarked upon the career of a monk. This event of renunciation is said to have taken place on the tenth day of the month of Marga sirsa. After leaving home, Mahāvīra put out his ornaments and plucked his hair in five handfuls. The Digambaras believe that he abandoned clothes also. But according to the Swetambaras he did not discard his clothes upto 13 months after his renouncement. Thenafter he wandered about naked.
Mahāvīra had to live a hard and strenuous ascetic life for twelve years before he obtained omniscience i.e. Kaivalya. The Kalpasūtra has succintly described the restraints he exercised and the hardships he underwent. Some of its passages are worth to be quoted:
"For more then twelve years the Venerable Ascetic Mahāvīra neglected his body and abandoned the care of it, he with equanimity bore, underwent, and suffered all pleasant or unpleasant occurrences arising from divine powers, men or animals."32
"Hence forth the Venerable ascetic Mahāvīra was houseless, circumspect in his walking circumspect in his speaking, cirrcumspect in his begging, circumspect in his accepting (anything), in the carrying of his