________________
460
On the whole, therefore, it appears certain that Srenika was a follower of Mahavira and Prasenajit was a follower of the Buddha.
Regarding Sreņika, Vincent A. Smith has expressed the following opinion:
"He appears to have been a Jaina in religion, and sometimes is coupled by Jaina tradition with Asoka's grandson Bamprati, as a notable patron of the creed of Mahāvira". (42).
Further, he writes,
Bing related through his mother to the reigning King of Videha, Magadha and Anga, he was in a position to gain official patronage for his teaching and is recorded to have been in personal touch with both Bimbisāra and Ajātasatru who seem to have followed his doctrine". (43).
About the name
Bhimbisára, etc. - Various words like Bhambhasara, Bhimbhasāra, Bhimbhisara, etc., have been used in the Jaina Agamas as the names of Sreņika(44). In later Sans - krta Pråkrta texts. the name more frequently used has been Bhambhasara (45). Bhambha, bhimbha and bhimbhi, these three words are accepted as synonyms for a musical instrument called behri (cf. Pāyiya -Sadda -mahānnavo, pp. 794, 807). In diverse texts, the interpretation that has been given to this name of Srenika is that during the outbreak of fire at the palace once, while other princes ran away with diverse objects, Srenika, to whom the bhambha alone stood important as the royal insignia ran away with it. Hence he was given the name Bhambhasāra(46). According to Vijayendra Suri 'Bhambhasara" was the only correct name, all others being incorrect(47). This explanation is far from satisfactory. The amas have used all the forms, and, therefore, even if the contention of Vijayendra Suri be accepted, still it has to be said that all these words, the of bhambha, bhimbha, etc., are associated with Srenika. Being used as proper nouns, they refer to the same person. There can be no question of the proper nouns used by the
