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परिशिष्ट नं० ६
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MAHAVIRA & JAINISM.
We have already given an account of Gautama and of the great religion founded by him. In this chapter we shall tell the story of Mahavira, who lived about the same time as Gautama and who was a great exponent of Jainism, another great religion of Ancient India.
Vardhamana Mahavira was the son of a ruling chief of the Lichchavi tribe, who inhabited the country round the modern Patna. He was a great thinker and he gave up the world at an early age. He lived a hard and simple life for several years, till at the age of forty-two he is said to have acquired full and complete enlightenment.
Thereafter he travelled through modern Bengal and Behar, preaching the doctrines of Jainism to the people. Being of noble birth, he was well received by the ruling kings of these countries. This made it easier for him to win converts to the religion he dreached.
