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 97

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA originality of conception and independence and eccentricity of practice," 1 Thus it is clear that in Gosala Mahavira had one who was not only not an asset or a source of strength to his Samgha, but had one who acted as a great obstruction to the progress of the Jamna church in the early days of its reformation, and this comparatively strengthened the position of the Buddhists, and gave a severe blow to the rising influence of Mahavira. So the consequences of this meeting of Mahavira and Gosala were certainly disastrous for both the teacher and the disciple. "The two men were so different in character and temper that after six years, owing to the insincerity and trickery of Gosala, the compamonship was dissolved " 3 Having separated from his master, Gosala made his headquarters in the house of a potter-woman at Srivasti, and seems to have gained considerable influence there. Soon after his separation from Mahavira he proclaimed that he had attained to the highest stage of saintship, that of a Jina. "This claim was put forth two years before Mahavira himself had reached his perfect enlightenment." 5 But according to the Jaina tradition it is only in the fourteenth year of his career as a prophet that Mahavira happened to visit Sravasti, and there for the first time he seems to have seen Gosala in the last days of his life. It is also recorded that the dual and unsteady nature of Gosala asserted itself, and later on he seems to have repented his undesirable conduct against his master.? 1 Belvaller and Ranade, History of Indian Philosophy, i1, PP 460-461 The bone of contention was a theory of reanimation which Gosala formulated from his observation of periodical reanimation of plant-Iife, and generalised it to such an extent as to apply it indiscriminately to all forms of life" - Barua, J.D.L, ,p 8 C. also Sastri (Baneryt), op at, p 56 Hoernle, op at, p 258 "Goscia, having learnt from hum the possession of the Telesy, or power of ejecting flame, and having learnt from certain of the disciples of Paravanithin what is technically called the Mahammutta of the eight Angas, intending probably their scriptural doctrines, set up for himself as a Jina and quitted his master." Wilson, op al, 1, pp 205-298 . atha: altre font. Hingfr... Avasyaha-Satra, p 214 & Charpentier, C.H.,1, p 159 * "Some Jamas believe that, because he so sincerely repented before his death, he went not to hell, but to one of the Decalokas- e heavens ... Stevenson (13) op at, 60 TCE and "H1 last act was to acknowledge to his disciple the truth of MabTIVES statement respecting himself and to instruct them to bury him with every mark Otok honour and publicly ta proclain his shame "-Hoernle, op aut , P 260. 60