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LORD MAHAVIRA'S ANUDHARMIKA CONDUCT
Shri DALSUKH MALVANIA
IT is an established fact that Mahavira's parents Iwere the followers of Lord Parshva, the 23rd Tirthankara of the Jainas. It is also a fact that there were some of the followers of Parshva who did not accept Mahavira as their tirthankara in the beginning but later on accepted his authority. As regards Mahavira himself, we know from the tradition that he was the last tirthankara of this age. It means that he must have followed the tradition of Parshva. In this note, I propose to discuss some of the references to the effect that he followed the old tradition.
Acharanga, the oldest amongst the Jaina literature clearly refers to Mahavira's anudhammiya conduct in these words :
णो चेविमेण वत्थेण पिहिस्सामि तंसि हेमंते । से पारए आवकहाए एवं खु अणुधग्मियं तस्स
8. S. 8.77972 :. The word anudhammiya is explained in churni as gatanugata, meaning thereby the traditional law.
This meaning of the word stafimy i.e. "traditional law” is supported by other textual references also :: . barafta 31799471fuit?
ESHO f. 2. P. 24 27
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