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 153

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA We know from various sources that both the Kosalas and the Saisunagas were also connected by matrimonial relations. Kosaladevi, the daughter of Mabakosala, had become one of the wives of Srenika with Cellana, the foremost female disciple of Mahavira.1 Besides this, certain Buddhist traditions tell us that Migara or Mrgadhara, the first minister of Prasenajit of Saratthi, the son of Mahakosala, was a sceptic and an adherent of the naked Tirthalas (i.e. Nirgrantha ascetics). Taking into consideration all the facts that are laid down above, one thing that becomes fully evident is that practically all tlic most important sixteen Mahajanapadas bad, in one or the other capacity, come under the influence of the Jaina church. Of the sixteen Great Powers we have as yet sard hardly anything about Magadha; this is not because Magadha could not be combined with the other Great Powers, but because this pre-Norman Wessex of ancient India is going to be our centre from whence all further discussions about Jaina history shall proceed. "The flourishing period of any of the sixteen Mnhajanapadas," obscrves Dr Raychaudhuri," ended in or about the sixth century B.C. The history of the succeeding period is the story of the absorption of tlic states into a number of powerful kingdoms, and ultimately into one empire-namely, the empire of Magadha."! We need not enter into any direct details as to how this one empire " of ancient India came to play the part of Prussia in the history of modern Germany. All that need be said is to show how far the different dynastics ruling over this empire were connected with the Jaina church. Beginning with the Saisunagas, the Nandas and the Mauryas we shall come down to the times of Kharaveln, who, 1 Cf. I'mdhan, op at, 213, Raychaudhuri, op cit,p 09. I c llocrnle, op el, Appendix III, pp 56-57. Rochlull, op cit, pp 70-71; Ralston, Schicfner's Troclan Tales, No III, p. 110, Pradhan, op.cil, p. 215 The names of the sixteen Grcat Xations, according to the Buddhist tmditions, are as follons, Kisi, Knin, Anga, Mngadlin, Yajli, Malla, Ceityn (Cedi). Vams (Valen). Kuru, Patricila, Macchia (otsva), Sumsetia, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhita, Kamion Thc Taina fist in the Bhagmatt runs to the following clicct Ann, Ban, Horih (Mardin), Malayn, Jalny, Archn, Vaccha (Vatsa). liocchin (Kacelin 7), Pidhn (P11 ), J n (Kirhn), 131 (V ), Moli. Kusi, kocala, Ayala. Sambluuttar (Sumont I) Bayrluudhurt 11 mndr the following note to these lists. "It will be tocht Ane dla, Yntsa, Vaji, Kisi and Kosal arc common to both the last Malav of the Bl. cell prolbls kunt with Avinti of Angulinta Poli probably (Tutxi's of Wall - Raschauthors, op af, pt 50-60 Mlad, 07 03 ULAR (BC), or ml,p 161. 110