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MAHAVIRA'S DISCIPLES.
17
to trace the main lines of development of North Indian Jainism, materials are wanting to fill the lacune. It is not our purpose here to deal with North Indian Jainism. We may; therefore, close this outline with the remark that, with the rise of Buddhism during the early Asokan period and the progress of Brahminism in the early centuries of the Christian cra, Jainism found it hard to maintain itself in the north and showed rapid signs of decay after the seventh century.
After the death of Mahāvīra, our interest and The disciples attention ate directed to his disciples who carried Mahāvira. aloft the torch of Jain culture far and wide. He had altogether eleven disciples who remained faithful to him and who are said to have instructed among them 4,200 Munis. Of them two deserve special mention, Sudharman' who, however, died before his master, and Gautama who survived his master but a month ; these. with Jambusvāni, the pupil of Sudharman, formed the three Kevalīs or possessors of true wisdom. Mention has next to be made of the six teachers who followed in the wake of the Kevalīs, the Sruta Kevalīs or hearers of the first masters, who in their turn, were followed by seven others, Dasapūrvis, who were so called from having been taught the work so named. The names of the Sruta Kevalos as mentioned in the inscriptions are Vishnu, Nandimitra, Aparājita,
· Hoernle would have us sup- boon continted to the present pose that Sudharman survived day. his master and that it was Wilson's Works, Vol. I, through him that Jainism has p. 236.
