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Arhat Pārśva and Dharanendra Nexus
intentions ..... Pāsa was obviously of a winsome nature, for he bears the constant title of purişādānīya which seems to be the oldest precursor of the modern occasional title of Lokamānya, Deśabandhu, Mahātman etc...." (The term purişādānīya is often translated as the "beloved one", or as the "celebrated one".)
Pārsva and his disciples are noticed in some agamas and āgamic commentaries. For instance the Āvaśyaka-cūrņi incidentally mentions several ascetics of the Pārsva sect, who were there during the course of Mahāvīra's wanderings as an ascetic. Uppala was a Pāsāvacciijā (disciple of Pārsva), who, after giving up the monastic order, had entered the house-holder's life and lived in Atthiyagāma. His two sisters, Somā and Jayanti, had joined the Order of Pārsva, but, being unable to live the stern ascetic life of his Order, became Parivrājikās of the Brahmanical Order.2 Municandra, a follower of Pārsva, dwelt in a potter's shop in Kumārāya-sanniveśa in company of his disciples. Asked by Gosāla (as to who they were), Municandra had replied that they were Samaņa Nigganthas. Mahāvīra told Gośāla that they were the followers of Pārsva. Vijayand Pagabbhā (Pragalbha ?), two female disciples of Pārsva (passāntevāsino) rescued Mahāvīra and Gośāla during their predicament in Kuvīyasanniveśa.
Pārsvanātha is said to have visited a number of cities, prominent among which were Adhicchatrā,5 Amalakappa , Srāvasti, Hastinapura, Kampilyapura, Sāketa," Rājagļha and Kaušāmbī.' Buddhist texts refer to the existence of a large number of Niganthas who followed căturyāma samvara.' The Vyākhyāprajñaptı10 records a discussion that took place between Mahāvīra and Sramana Gāngeya, a follower of Pārsva in Vānijyagrāma. Gāngeya gave up the catujjāma-dhamma and embraced the Pañcamabāvrata disciplinary vow of Mahāvīra. Kālāsyavaiśyaputra, also a follower of Pārsva, became a follower of Mahāvīra. The Jñātādharmakatha refers to Pundarīka who plucked out his hair and accepted the four vows. The city of Tungiya is stated to have been the centre of theras (sthaviras) who were followers of Pārśva and who moved in a congregation of 500 monks. Names of some of these theras mentioned are Kaliyaputta, Mehila, Anandarakṣita, and Kāśyapa. 12 The Sūtrakstāngal3 mentions Udaya Pedhālaputta, a Nirgrantha follower of Pārsva, of the Meyañña (Maitreya) gotra. Gautama Indrabhūti had discussions with him after which Gautama took him to Mahāvīra where he gave up the doctrine of four restraints (of Pārsva) and took to five great vows as ordained by Mahāvīra. The Rāja-Praseniyali refers to a kumāraśramana Keśī who was a pontiff or patriarch of the Pārsva's Church and knew 14 Pūrvas. Keśī visited the town of Srāvasti in a congregation of 500 monks. Later Kesi visited svetāmbi where a discussion took place between him and king Pradeśī who
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