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72
History of Jainism with Special Reference to Mathurā
both Pārsvanātha and Mahāvīra were more or less the same.205 It is possible that in the intervening period between Pārsvanātha and Mahāvīra, some religious chaos had occurred; therefore, Mahāvīra had to devote his entire missionary career in reorganising Jainism in the region where it had earlier been propagated by Pārsvanātha 206
According to some Jaina traditions, Mahāvīra visited even more distant places.207 On the authority of Harivamśa Purāna, a late work, K.P. Jain has expressed the view that Mahāvīra had toured extensively in Rajputana, Punjab, south India, and north-western countries like Kamboja and Vālhīka.208 Nothing certain can be said about this.209 Mahāvīra is said to have ordained numerous kings, queens, princes, princesses, 210 tradesmen, high officials211 and others, including persons said to belong to low castes.212
Mahāvīra died in 527 BC at the age of seventy-two213 at a place called Majjhima Pāvā or modern Pavapuri in the Patna district.214 He died in the house of king Hastipāla.215 This indicates that contrary to his usual practice, Mahāvīra probably resided inside the town at that time because of illness.216 We are told that on the night of his death the kings of Malla and Licchavi clans celebrated the lamp festival in his honour.217 The Jaina tradition traces
205. JAA, I, p. 23. 206. Ibid. 207. Ibid. 208. HJM, pp. 69-70 fn. 92. 209. Ibid. 210. JAA, I, p. 23; HJM, pp. 70-1. 211. LDJC, p. 24. 212. JSS, p. 21. 213. ACHI, p. 101. 214. AQIU, p. 415. 215. Ibid. 216. Ibid. 217. Ibid.; ACHI, p. 101; HOIC, I, p. 162.
