Religion and Culture of the Jains

SR No.: 014007
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: D C Sirkar
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1973
Total Pages: 168
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 10 MB

Page 136

14 Jambusvāmin, leader of the Jains for 24 g op. cit., p. 68. In the Buddha says th Pek, there were a r slove of Mt. Isigi! V. I, London, 192: Aup. Sü.. | Pari. Par..
S. P. SINGH
Tirthankara of the Jains, lived and died in this city and the site of his birth and consecration is marked by a modern Digambara temple which lies in the western fringe of a huge mound called Karnagadh at Nathnagar, supposed to be the ruins of the ancient city of Campa.
According to the Jain tradition, the place Mahavira liked best was Rajagṛha, the capital of Magadha. He spent fourteen rainy seasons at Rajagṛha and Nālandā. The former was not only an important centre of Jainism from the time of Mahavira, but was the birth place of Munisuvrata, one of the predecessors of Mahavira. 14 Both the Buddhists and Jains claim that kings Bimbisāra and Ajātaśatru favoured their respective doctrines. Both kings figure prominently in the early Buddhist and Jain literature. Bimbisāra (c. 543-491 B.C.), king of Magadha, conquered the kingdom of Anga and placed it under prince Ajātaśatru as the Viceroy with Campā as his headquarters. In the Aupapātikasūtra,1 Ajātaśatru is represented as declaring his faith in Jainism and is described as often approaching Mahāvīra at Vaiśālī and Campa. Thus the age of Bimbisara and Ajataśatru is memorable in the history of Jainism in Bihar. Its echo is found in Jain literature which testifies to its greatness and general prosperity. Udayin (c. 452-443 B. C.), son of Ajātaśatru (c. 491-452 B. C.) and the founder of the new city of Pataliputra, was a devout Jain and a great patron of Jainsim. According to the Parisiṣṭaparvan, 16 he built a Jain temple at the centre of Pataliputra. It appears that, during his reign, Jainism spread rapidly in Bihar, and Paṭaliputra became one of the important centres of the Jains. The high status of the Jain monks was recognised and they had access to the king's palace. It is believed that Udayin was murdered by a disguised Jain monk.
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of Sudharman. who was the spiritual sal born at Rajagṛha. See Stevenson, Anandhasutta of the Majjhimanikāya, when he now saying at Rajagṛha on the Vu.ture Sording un ascetics) on the rocks on the Frther Dialoguri ddha,