Bhagvana Mahavira

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 63

Foundation of Religious Order
7. Upāsakadasā
8. Antakṛddasā
The acara or ethical conduct of the lay followers.
Narrations about people who have attained emancipation.
9. Anuttaropapātikadasā Narrations about people born in the Anuttara Vimāna, (the highest class of gods).
It discusses the five types of āsravas (influx of karma) and samvara (cessation of āsravas).1 It deals with the effects of karma (action).
Nayavidya (Science of Perspectives).
10. Praśnavyäkaraṇa
11. Vipäka
12. Drṣṭivāda
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Like Gautama many other scholars attended Bhagavan Mahavira's discourse. They also expressed their desire to know the nature of Reality. Bhagavan Mahāvīra enlightened them with the philosophy of anekanta and sharpened their spiritual propensities. Just as they excelled in the Vedic and secular sciences, so also they attained perfection in the knowledge propounded by the Arhats.
The Organization of the Monastic Order
Bhagavan Mahāvīra was the apostle of ahimsā (nonviolence) and equality. Freedom is the concomitant result of ahiṁsā. Bhagavan Mahāvīra propounded the path of emancipation. This path comprises of spiritual discipline and selfcontrol, but it is free from all kinds of regimentation. Bhagavan Mahāvīra eschewed compulsion in the organization of the monastic order. It was governed by self-discipline. It was divided into nine ganas or sub-divisions. Eleven ganadharas including Indrabhūti directed these subdivisions. Seven sub-divisions had a single head each and the remaining two were governed by two ganadharas each. 1. The old version of Praśnavyäkarana dealt with the various kinds of sciences of angustha, praśna etc.