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फेब्रुआरी २०११
१५३
(kevalajnāna) and as a Tirthankara, founded a new Order of Jaina monks and nuns. He lived a life of one thousand years.
"Attended by a retinue of 18,000 noble ascetics, and 40,000 female ascetics, ...knowing that it was time for his emancipation (moksha), the Lord went to Raivataka (The Girnar Hills). After fasting for six months, on the 8th of the white half of Ashādha, he attained emancipation, together with the munis.” (Helen M. Johnson's Translation of Trishashti-, Vol. V, p. 313.)
Three “shalākāpurushas” in a single family is a rare event. The Jaina authors glorify the life of their 22nd Tirthankara Nemi by subordinating the life of Krishna to him, as well as showing Balarāma and the Pāndava brothers as followers of the holy path of the Tirthankara.
After the Great War' in which the Pāndavas became victorious over the Kauravas, and after the death of Krishna, we read in Acārya Hemacandra's account:
“Weeping, the Pāndavas held Krishna's funeral for a year, like brothers. Knowing that the Pāndavas wished to become mendicants, Shri Nemi sent Muni Dharmaghosha...with five hundred munis. The Pāndavas ... accompanied by Draupadi and others, became mendicants at the sage's side and practiced penance together with special vows....
When they heard that Nemi had reached emancipation, deeply grieved, the Pandavas went to Mt. Vimala (the Palitana Hills) and observed a fast unto death. They reached emancipation (moksha), but Draupadi went to Brahmaloka (heaven) a magnificent abode." (Johnson, Vol. V, pp. 312-14.)
At the end of this Chapter, Ācārya Hemacandra says:
“The Twenty-second Arhat, the ninth Baladeva and Vāsudeva and their enemy (Prati-Vāsudeva), ... have been celebrated in this book (by me) after considering thoroughly
