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 150

JAINISM IN ROYAL FAMILIES and some men of the highest position in Vesali appear to have been among them, as is seen from the Buddhist books themselves." 1 Thus we have seen to what extent the Videhans, the Licchavis, the Jnatrikas and the Vajjis were connected with the Jaina church. It seems that the Vajian or the Licchavi confederacy as a whole was a great source of strength to the reformed church of Mahavira. Taking next the Mallakins we find that they too had imbibed a feeling in them of respect and sympathy for the great prophet and lus doctrines. The country of the Mallas is spoken of as one of the sixteen "great countries" (Mahajanapadas), and it is agreed to by both the Buddhists and the Jainas. At the time of Mahavira they appear to have been divided into two confederacies-one with its capital at Pava, and the other at Kusinara8 Both the capitals are situated at a short distance from each other, and are known to the Jainas and Bauddhas as sacred places where their prophets reached their final liberation. We have already seen that Mahavira died here " while he was dwelling in the house of the scribe of King Hastipala or, according to Stevenson's Kalpa-Sutra, while he was spending the Paryushana (Pajusana) at the palace of Shastipala, King of Papa. There are four beautiful Jaina temples in an enclosure which marks the site of his death." 4 The connections of the Jamas with the Mallas, though not as good as those with the Licchavis, seem to be good enough to get them their support for the progress of their church. According to Dr Law we get ample proof for this even from the Buddhist literature. "Jainism," observes the learned scholar, " found many followers among the Mallas as among many other races of Eastern India The accounts we get in the Buddhist literature of the schism that appeared in the Jaina church after the death of Mahavira amply 1 Law (BC), op af, pp 67, 78 . C Raychaudhur, op cit, pp 59-60 3 C Law (BC), op.at, 147, Raychaudhur, op al,p 79, Rhys Davids, CHI,1, p 176 "Papa 18 & corruption of Apapapuri Papa or Pava has been wrongly identified by General Cunningham with Padroana, wluch as the modern name of ancient Para, where Buddha ate food at the house of Cunda Pavapuri is the modern name of the ancient Papi or Apapapuri, seven miles to the east of Bihar town, where Mahavirs, the Jaing Tirthankar, died "-Dey, op cit, pp 148, 155 Kusinara or Kusinagama is the place where Buddha died in 477 BC It has been adentified by Professor TYilson and others with the present village of Kapla, in the east of the Gorakhpur district, and it has also anciently known as Kusivati CS Raychaudhuri, opol, P 79, Law (BC), op cul, Pp 147-148 ; Dey, op cit, p 111 Ibrd, p. 148 Cf Buhler, op cit, p 27, Sterenson (Rev), Kalpa-Sutra,p 01. 107