________________
accelerated class of annihilating karmas (K apaka re ) and in deep meditation, destroying the obscuring karmas, under the M 1 ra tree on the 3rd day of the bright fortnight of Krtika month under the constellation M la, he attained pure knowledge. Becoming an omniscient he addressed a large gathering of gods and men and established the fourfold order being called a T rthamkara.
The Lord's congregation consisted of 88 Ga adharas, 7500 omniscient, 7500 telepaths, 8400 clairvoyants, 1500 14-p rvadh rs, 13000 vaikriyalabdhidh rs, 6000 v ds, 200000 monks, 120000 female-monks, 229000 votaries and 472000 female-votaries.
Adhering to the spiritual path for a little less than 1 lakh p rvas, the Lord, sensing the end of his life-span, observed a one-month long fast on Sammeta ikhara with 1000 monks. Then, stopping all activities, destroying the 4 non obscuring karmas, he attained enlightenment and nirva on the 9th day of the dark fortnight of Bh drapada. It is said that because of a fault of the time-period after Suvidhin tha, the monkorder discontinued and votaries began to give instructions of their own accord on charity, etc. It is possible that this was the important time of propagation of Brahminical culture.
*****
112
