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 142

JAINISM IN ROYAL FAMILIES the order of Mahavira's disciples. All these facts combined go a long way to show how far Vardhamana's influence reached through his mother Trisala, the Licchavi princess. It is clear from this that at the time Mahavira Lived and preached, the Licchavis were recognised as Kshatriyas, who held their heads very high on account of their high birth and with whom the highest born princes of Eastern India considered it an honour to enter into matrimonial alliance. In short, it was through the Licchavis, and thereby through the ruling dynasty of Vaisali, that the reformed church of Mahavira got a solid support from all directions in its early days. It was through them that the religion of Mahavira had spread over Sauvira, Anga, Vatsa, Avanti, Videha and Magadha, all of which were the most powerful kingdoms of the time. This is why the Buddhist works do not mention Cetaka, the king of Vaisali, though they tell us about the constitutional government of Vesali. To quote Dr Jacobi, "Buddhists took no notice of him, as his influence . ., was used in the interest of their rivals. But the Jainas cherished the memory of the maternal uncle and patron of their prophet, to whose influence we must attribute the fact that Vazsali used to be a stronghold of Jainism, while being looked upon by the Buddhists as a seminary of heresies and dissent." 4 In addition to these there are other stray references to the Licchavis in the Jaina Sutras which more or less confirm the fact that they were nothing short of Jainas themselves. Taking first the Sutrakytanga we find that they were highly respected by the Jainas. According to it, "A Brahmana or Kshattriya by birth, a scion of the Ugra race or a Licchavi, who enters the order eating alms given by others is not stuck up on account of his renowned Gotra." 5 Citing next the Kalpa-Sutra: "In that night in which the Venerable Ascetic Mahavira died, ... freed from all pains, the eighteen confederate kings of Kasi and Kosala, the nine Mallakis and nine Licchavis, on the day of new moon, instituted an illumination on I Cf Avasyaha-Sutra, P 683; Hemacandra, op cit, 200, p 80 : C Dey, Notes on Ancient Anga,p 822, Buhler, Indran Sect of the Jarnas, p 27. Cf. Jacobi, S.BE , xxu, Int, pu See Turnour, J.AS.B, ,P 992 * Jacobs, 0p, ca , Tnt ,p sai . Jacobi, SB.E, XIV, 321. "The Jainas celebrate the Mircana of Mahavira with an illumination on the rught of new moon in the month Kurttika."-Iond , XX1, 266 99