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Chapter 07
Ancient Tibet - History and Culture
cruelly treated by the inhabitants of Vajjabhumi of Radha. Instead of keeping dogs off from Mahavir the inhabitants of Vajjabhumi set dogs on the monk and made dogs bite him. But Mahavir did not carry bamboo sticks like other monks to keep off dogs from biting. In the 3rd lesson, eleventh couplet of the some book. It is said, “When he (Mahavir) once (sat) without moving his body, they (the rude villagers) cut off his flesh, tore his hair under pain or covered him with dust": "The venerable one (Mahavir) who had abandoned the care of the body, more pain free from desire”.6 Not only did Mahavir endure himself such cruelties but he commanded his followers also to endure all troubles (parisaha) that are likely to beset them in their life as wandering mendicants. It is also to be noted that one of the ten duties of a Jaina monk is to forgive the offenders. The Nirgantha (Jaina) monk from the day of their ordination to monkhood “learn how to control anger and instead of giving way to wrath, practice the difficult duty of forgiveness and the monks are constantly reminded of how Mahavir forgave his enemies" and the monks are also advised to remember how the venerable one once forgave a wicked cobra that bit him and preached to it the noble virtue of forgiveness." ? The quality of benevolence or kindness for all living beings whether men or beast is ingrained in the religion of the Nirgranthas. As the Nirgranthas believe in the potential equality of all Jivas (souls) they refrain form hurting even an animalcule. On the other hand they rander all sorts of help for the protection of living creatures. It will not be out of place to mention that by the austerity called "vaiya - vacha". The Nirgranthas or Jainas render service to the poor, the helpless, the suffering by giving them food, water shelter or clothing." It is, therefore, evident from the discussion made above that at the time for depicting the characteristics of a true yogin or ascetic, Advayavajra had before him the model of an advanced Nirgrantha Digambara ascetic. And in the eleventh century A.D. perhaps, the Digambara ascetics were very numerous in North Bengal where at the Devikota Vihar, the author of “Mayaniryukti" Advayavajra had his residence. The ruins of Devakota/Devikota have been unearthed at Bangarh, eighteen miles away from Dinajpur. Incidentally, it is to be mentioned that in the medieval times in Bengal some “Avadhutis" and Kapalis" were known for their strict and hard hermit life. As for example, the Avadhuti yogis lived in forest under trees, begged alms for food, put on wornout rags (Jirnacivara) and were averse to caste, scripture and pilgrimage" But this description of the Avadhutis does not tally with that found in Mayaniryukti because the Avadhutis wore worn out rags and all Avadhuti ascetics did not live in forests some of them lived in monasteries As, for example, Avadhutipada Advayavajra himself lived at Devikota monastery? 10 Probably in the eleventh century A.D. when the tract or treatise Mayaniryukti was written the Avadhutis were not yet organized into a sect and perhaps they were very few in number and not noticeable.
7.
Hermann Jacobi, Acharangsutra, SBE, Vol. XXII Ibid. Mrs. S. Stevenson, Heart of Jainism, p. 151 ff. Mrs. S. Stevenson, Heart of Jainism, p. 167.
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Influence of Jainism on Tibetan Literature
