________________
warrior race. His mother was Trishalâ, sister of king Chetaka of Vaisâli. Chetaka's daughter Chelanâ was married to king Shrenika or Bambhsâra who was a staunch admirer and adherent of Mahavira. Shortly after the death of his parents, Mahâvira renounced the world and became an ascetic in his 31st. year. For the first 12 years, he led a life of austerities and wandered through various countries preaching the truth of Jainism. He acquired perfect knowledge in his 42nd. year and attained nirvana at Pawapuri, a few miles from modern Behar, in 527 B. C. at the age of 72.
He was a senior contemporary of Gautam Buddha and the country of Magadha and those round about it, were his chief spheres of spiritual activity. It is interesting to note that both the great preachers, in spite of the fact of being contemporaneous, avoid mentioning each other in their utterances.
About two centuries after Mahâvira's death, when Chandra Gupta was the reigning Prince, a severe famine, lasting for twelve years, visited the country of Magadha. Bhadrabahu was then the head of the Jain church,
8
