Comprehensive History Of Jainism

SR No.: 022803
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Aseem Kumar Chatterjee
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 28 MB

Page 58

CHAPTER IV
Spread of Jainism (The Early Phase)
It is extremely difficult to correctly gauge the progress of the Jaina religion during the centuries preceding the Christian era in different parts of India. The available inscriptions, it is true, do help us in this with regard to some parts of India. However, with the exception of the Mathurā region and Orissa, very few pre-Christian in- . scriptions relating to the Jaina religion have been discovered.' The early canonical texts are of some help in relation to various parts of northern India.
In our discussion on the career of Pārsva we noticed that he was successful in popularising the Nirgrantha religion in different parts of what is now known as U.P. This religion, as have already pointed out, originated in all probability, at Kāśī, and before the demise of that great prophet won a good number of converts in some prominent cities of U.P. He himself personally visited places like Kaušāmbi, Sāketa," Kāmpilyapura,"Āmalakappa," Mathurā" and a few other cities. We are also told that he carried out missionary activities in Rājagsha.?
After Pārsva's death, close disciples of his undoubtedly continued his task of popularizing the doctrine of fourfold restraints. In the canonical literature his disciples are frequently mentioned, and the city of Tungiyā is specially mentioned in the Bhagavatt as a centre of the disciples of Pārsva. We have already noticed that even northern Bihar after Pārsva's death fell under the influence of his religion. Not only were the parents of Mahāvīra followers of Pārsva, but a prominent disciple belonging to his school lived at Vāņiyaggāmao near Vaiśālī. The Sūtrakstāngalo refers to another prominent disciple, belonging to Pārsva's school, whom Mahāvīra met and converted at Nalandă. A few other places connected with the missionary activities of monks of Pārsva's order (Pasā-vaccijja) have already been noticed. It is extremely probable that before the birth