Jainism in North India

SR No.: 011067
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Chimanlal J Shah
Publisher: Longmans Green and Compny London
Publication Year: 1932
Total Pages: 66
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 3 MB

Page 101

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA determinism ... by teaching that, though Karma decides all, we ourselves can affect our past Karma by our present hfe" 1 Thus if at all Gosala had an influence on the formulation of the reformed Jaina doctrine, and on the career of Mahavira, it is only thus far and no further. In addition to this we may add once again that just because of these unhappy schisms in the Jama church "Mahavira's chances of founding an all-India religious movement were seriously jeopardised." 2 This much about Gosala himself. We have already seen that m the fourteenth year of Mahavira's life as a prophet Gosala died This event naturally coincides with the fact that he died 16 years prior to Mahavira, deducting 14 years from 30 of Mahavira as a prophet. Thus based on the date of Mahavira's Nurvana, which we have taken as approximately between 480-467 BC., Gosala's death must be placed somewhere between 496-488 B.C. As laid down in the Bhagavatt-Sutra, this date of Gosala is supported also by the fact that his death was coincident with the great war between King Kuniya (Ajatasatru) and King Cedaga of Vaisali for the possession of an extraordinary elephant This elephant was given by Kuniya's father, King Bimbisara, to bis younger son Vehalla by his wife Cellana, a daughter of King Cedaga Having usurped the throne, Ajatasatru tried to get the elephant from his younger brother, but the latter ran away with it to his grandfather in Vaisali. "Kuniya having failed peacefully to obtain the extradition of the fugitive commenced war with Cedaga." 4 Thus the war, which must have taken place somewhere about the time when Kuniya took upon himself the regal power, can be placed c. 496 B.C.5 1 Stevenson ([rs), op cit, 60 "It was probably owing to Gosalu's conduct that Mahavira added a vow of chastity to the four vous of Parsvanatha's order ."--Ibid, p 59 Cf also tond, 185, Hoernle, op al, P 264 Sastra (Baneri), op cut, 56 "From the 6th to the 3rd century BC Buddhism under & common leader spread all over India and beyond Divided counsel crippled Jainism at the start But the Jainas have the satisfaction of knowing that the once powerful Azivikas survive only as a memory " Iod, p 68 Hoernle, Uvasaga-Dasao, Appendix I, 7. I U for TYTURE. --Bhagatali (Agamodayn Samiti), 316, sut 300 C Hemacandra, Trishashti-Salaka, Parta X, Vy 205-206 Hocrnle, op and loc cut CJ also Tatracy, Kathakosa, pp 178-179. . EUGICT E lft - Avasyala-Satra, p 684 * Dr Hocrnle, taking 484 C as the date of Mahlvira's death, puts c 500 DC as the date (approximate) of Gobala and of the war between Ajatasatru and his grandfather. CJ Hoernle, E RE,1,P 261 04