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________________ JAINISM IN ROYAL FAMILIES but parts of a common movement directed against the establishment of the hegemony of Magadha. The absorption of Vaisali, Videha, Kasi and other territories as a result of these wars to a great extent brought the aspiring ruler of Magadha face to face with the equally ambitious sovereign of Avanti. We already know that the throne of Avanti was at this time occupied by Canda Pradyota Mahasena. That he was a king feared by his neighbours is apparent from a statement of the Majjhima Nikaya that Ajatasatru fortified Rajagrha because he was afraid of an invasion of his territories by Pradyota. This does not seem to be improbable in view of the fact that after the fall of Anga and Vaisali, and the discomfiture of Kosala, Avanti was the only important rival left for Magadha. Thus by the end of Kunika's reign Magadha had absorbed almost all the kingdoms and republics of Eastern India. During his son and successor Udayin's period, as the Jaina traditions tell us, Magadha and Avanti were brought face to face with each other.2 The Sthavitavali Carita and other Jaina sources inform us that Udayin was a very powerful king, and defeated and killed the king of a certain country in battle, and the son of that king went to Ujjayini and there related the story of his distress to him. The deposed prince got into the favour of the Avanti lord, and with his help, having disguised as a monk, finally murdered Udayin while asleep. If nothing else, this particular legend gives an insight into the spirit of rivalry that existed between Avanti and Magadha, both of whom tried to acquire the paramount power in Northern India. Furthermore, from the equally aggressive policy of the Avanti ruler it seems clear that it was a contest between the two for the mastery of Northern India. Katha-Sarit-Sagara and other Jaina traditions tell us that the kingdom of Kausambi was at this time annexed to the realm of Palaka of Avanti, the son of Pradyota. Thus the Avanti-Magadha contest which, as we have seen, began in the regime of Ajatasatru seems to have continued during the reign of Udayin." The contest was finally decided in favour of i Cy. Raychaudhuri, op. cit ,p 128; Pradhan, op cit, P 216 S H EFIT falf4Hsingefanti-Hemacandra, Paristshfaparvan, Canto VI, Y. 191 cr Atasyaha-Sutra, p 690 Cf Pradhan, op cit, p 217. C Eemacandra, op ctt, VT 189-190, 208; Arasyaha-Sutra, op and loc. at . Cf. Raychaudhurt, op cit, p 131 of metant state-ca, etc -Atasyaha-Sutra, p. 609 115
| SR No. | 011067 |
| Book Title | Jainism in North India |
| 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 |