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Varddhamana Mahavira And His Religion
by
DR. B. C. LAW M.A., LL.B., Ph.D, D.Litt., Hony. F.R.A.S., F.R.A.S.B., etc.
AMONG the twenty-four * Tirthankaras Mahavira was the last. He was called Varddhamana or ' prosperous one', because with his birth the wealth, fame and merit of the family increased. He was the son of Kshatriya Siddhartha otherwise named as Sreyamsa and Yasamsa and Kshatriyani Trisala also known as Videhadatta and Priyakarini of the Vasistha gotra. His mother was a sister to Cetaka of Videha, His parents who belonged
* They were the preparers of the right path, also
called the "Jinas”, who possessed perfect knowledge or "kevalajnana" and proolaimed anew the religion which sank into corruption. They were sophists, revered by the people, men of experience. They may be called prophets or founders of schools. Cf. "Dialogues of the Buddha", II, 66.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
