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 118

CHAPTER III Jainism in Royal Families 800-200 B.C. TN our prerious chapters we saw all that could be said about I the Jaina church That Parsva could be historically identified and that Mahavira had blood-relations with some royal families of his time are facts that count much when we are out to investigate the circumstances under which " Jainism became the state religion of certain kingdoms, in the sense that it was adopted and encouraged by certain kings, who carried with them many of their subjects." 1 This is nothing but ascribing the history of the Jainas of North India with all its legitimate historical background of that part of the country. In other words, the aim of this chapter is to draw, as far as possible, an exact picture of the Jainas of North India in their relations with the ruling dynasties of their times. Taking first the times of Parsva, we find that there is hardly any material available on which we can rely. Very "scanty is our knowledge of the life and teaching of Parsva, in spite of the large body of literature which has clustered around bus name." 2 As seen before, all that we know of any historical importance in connection with him is that he was born of King Asvasena of Benares, who belonged to the Ikshvaku race of the Kshatriyas, 3 and that he reached his final liberation, Nirvana, on the top of Mount Summeta in Bengal. In his marital relations he was connected with the royal family of King Prasenajit, whose father, Naravarman, who designated himself as the lord of the universe 1 Smith, op at, p 55. * Charpentier, op.at, P 154 ... wguit quitter Turucurga: तस्यामिक्षाकुवंशोभूदश्वसेनो महीपतिः / -Hemacandra, Trishashn-Salaha, Parca IX, TT 8, 14, p 190