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 128

JAINISM IN ROYAL FAMILIES hadatta, a native of Videha, a prince of Videha-had lived thirty years in Videha when his parents went to the gods (i.e. died)." 1 Thus from the Jaina Sudras themselves the following points are confirmed: that a section of the Videhans had settled in Vaisali," the capital of Videha" 2; that Princess Trisala belonged to this section of the Videhans, and that Mahavira was closely connected with them. With all this the first point still needs some more elucidation. As Mahavira was a Videhan, even so according to Jacobi he was also a Varsalika--.e. a native of Vaisali. Thus Kundapura or Kundagrama of King Siddhartha cannot but be a prominent part of Vazsali, the capital of the reigning line of Videha 3 In addition to all these references confirming the close relationship that existed between Mahavira and the Videhans there are certain other indications in the sacred books of the Jainas which go to assert that the Videhans had a living interest in the Jaina church. Talking about Nami, the royal seer, the UttaradhyayanaSutra says: नमो नमेइ सम्माण सक्खं सकेश चोइयो / पक्रय गेहं च वेदेहि सामगणे पज्जवद्रिसो॥ "Nami humbled himself; enjoined by Sakra in person, the kong of Videha left the house, and took upon him Sramanahood." 4 Besides this from the Kalpa-Sutra we know that at Mithila, the metropolis of Videha, Mahavira spent six rainy-seasons. This shows how far Mahavira was connected with the Videhans. In short, from what we have seen about them one thing is clear--that if not all, there was at least a section amongst the Videhans who were real Jainas. Coming next to the Licchavis we find that they were a great and powerful people in Eastern India in the sixth century before Christ. There is no use denying the fact that with the Joatrikas they must have come directly under the influence of the teaching 1 Jacobi, op cit, 256 . Iord, Int, "Kundagrama, therefore, was probably one of the suburbs of Varsili, the capital of Videla This conjecture 19 borne out by the Dame Vesaliec Vaisalika--given to Mahavira in the Satraktlanga, 1,8 The commentator explains the passage in question in two different ways, and at another place a third explanatron is given . Vaisalika apparently menns a native of Vasall: and Maha virs could be rightly called that when Kundagrama was a suburb of Vasali, just as a native of Turnham Green may be called a Londoner"-Mid Ullaradhyayana-Shtra, Lecture IX, V. 61 Cf hd, v 02; Lecture XVIII, Y.45 (trans Jacobi, S.B.E, av, pp 41, 87) For a full description of the legendary tale of Nam ece Meyer (J J), Hindu Tales, pp 147-160 87