History of Jainism

SR No.: 006741
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: U K Sharma
Publisher: D K Print World
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 304
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 10 MB

Page 88

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History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
texts like Uttara Purāṇa, Vardhamancarita and Triṣaṣṭisalākāpuruṣacarita yield abundant material regarding his life. 125 Passages in some old Jaina canonical works, 126 and Buddhist scriptures also provide valuable hints about his life. 127
Mahāvīra was born at Kuṇḍagrama, a suburb of Vaiśālī, now called Basukunda, 128 in 599 BC.129 He belonged to the Naya clan which is known as Nata in Pali and Jñātṛi in Sanskrit. 130 His father Siddhartha was a wealthy kṣatriya nobleman,131 head of a warrior clan called the Jñātṛkas.132 and also chief of Kundapura. 133 Mahāvīra's mother Trisala,134 a kṣatriya lady,135 also called Priyakāriņi,136 was the sister of Ceṭaka, an eminent Licchavi prince of Vaiśālī.137
According to the Jaina tradition, Siddhartha and Triśala had one daughter and two sons, the younger of whom was named Vardhamana. 138 We learn from the Kalpasūtra 139 and Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita 140 that Mahāvīra's original name was Vardhamana. The tale that Mahāvīra was conceived by a brāhmaṇa lady named Devānandā, and that his embryo was
125. JI, p. 86.
126. CHI, I, p. 157.
127. Ibid.
128.
Ibid.; AOIU, p. 413; JAA, I, p. 22.
129. CUHI, I, p. 220; JSS, p. 20; JSAI, p. 53; JAA, I, p. 22.
130. AOIU, p. 413.
131. Ibid.; CHI, I, p. 157.
132.
CHI, I, p. 157.
133. AAHI, p. 84.
134. Ibid.; AOIU, p. 413; CHI, I, p. 157.
135. AAHI, p. 84.
136. ACHI, p. 101; JSAI, p. 34.
137.
AOIU, p. 413; CHI, I, p. 157.
138.
CHI, I, p. 157.
139. Ibid.; JSS, p. 20 fn. 7.
140. TSPC, VI, p. 34.