Lord Mahavira and His Times

SR No.: 011080
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kailashchandra Jain
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas
Publication Year: 1974
Total Pages: 427
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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Lord Mahavira and His Times was Mahāvíra called Nātaputta because he was a scion of the Nāta Clan. HIS BIRTH AND PARENTAGE
The Jaina tradition places the birth of Mahāvīra in the year 599 B.C. He belonged to Kāśyapa gotra. He was a son of Kshatriya Siddhartha, also known as Śreyāmsa and Yaśāmśa, and of Kshatriyāni Trišalā, also known as Videhadattā and Priyakāriņi of the Vasishtha Gotra. His mother was a sister of Chețaka, one of the kings of Vaiśālī. His parents, both lay followers of Pārsva, were pious and chaste, virtuous and strict. They rigorously observed the principles of Jainism.
One incident regarding the birth of Mahāvīra, which has been mentioned by some Svetāmbara works, cannot be ignored. It is said that Mahāvīra was first conceived in the womb of a Brāhmin lady called Devānandā but was later transferred to the womb of Tiśalā Khattiyāni as Tirthankaras are not born in the Brahmin families. The Bhagavati Sūtra puts this episode into the mouth of Mahāvīra himself. The incident as described there relates to Devānanda and Usabhadatta, the original parents, coming to see Mahāvīra when the latter had become famous as a preacher. On seeing Mahāvíra milk began to flow from the breast of Devānandā due to the strong motherly love she bore towards him. Gotama asked his Master the reason for this upon which the latter admitted that he was the son of Devānandā. The text goes on to say that these original parents of Mahāvīra accepted the order of their Jaina son. This may be one of the causes of his having Brāhmin disciples.
Curiously enough, the tradition about the transfer of the womb goes back to the beginning of the Christian era or even earlier, as it is found depicted in one of the Mathura Sculptures. This story seems to have been borrowed from 1. Achā, II, 15, 15; Kalpa, 109, 110. 2. SBE, XXII, p. 220; Sama, p. 89a; Sthānā, p. 523b; Acha, II, 16. 4-
(pp. 190-191). 3. Blag, 9.33 (pp. 457-58), 4. V.A. SITI : Thc Jain Stūpa and other Antiquities of Mathura,
Place No. 1S.