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15
nd rugged le passing the inhabi
and in the Kalpasūtra (5.109) only the name of Jasoyā (Yasodā) of Kodinna gotra as Mahāvira's wife is mentioned. Further, it is state that she had a daughter named Anojjā or Piyadamsaņa. The name of Mahavira's daughter's husband is neither referred to in the Acārānga nor in the Kalpasūtra, but we learn from the A vasyaka tradition that it was Jamali.
Mahavira renounced the wordly life at the age of thirty. It has been stated that for a period of one month and a year (samvaccharam sahiyam māsam)' he went about with a robe and then roamed about naked. He preached severe asceticism for over a period of twelve years and wandered naked and homeless. He travelled on foot from place to place unmindful of hunger and thirst, cold and heat and rough and rugged pathways. It is stated that for more than two years he neither drank nor used cold water. While passing the region of the country of Ladha (in West Bengal), he had to undergo severe hardships. The inhabitants of this country were violent by nature. They had an aversion for ascetics and often harassed them if ever they passed through their land. They hit them with sticks, fists or lances, cut their flesh, tore their hair, threw dust on their bodies and set their dogs upon them. Looking at Mahāvira's nude body, the children ran away in fright and people drove him out of village.
After twelve long years of hard ascetic life Mahāvira attained omniscience (kevalajñāna) at the age of forty-two and lived thereafter for thirty years to preach religious sermons. According to the Kalpasūtra, since the time Mahavira renounced his household life, he spent forty-two rainy seasons in the following places: First rainy season in Atthiyagama Next three rainy seasons in Campā and Pitthicampa Next twelve rainy seasons in Vesāli and Vāņiyagama Next fourteen rainy seasons in Rājagiha and Nalanda Next six rainy seasons in Mithila Next two rainy seasons in Bhaddiya Next one rainy season in Alabhiyā Next one rainy season in Paniyabhūmi* Next one rainy season in Sävatthi the last rainy season in Pāvās
This roughly corresponds to modern Bihar, a part of North-West of Bengal and a part of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. This indicates that during the life time of Mahavira Jainsm did not seem to have spread roughly beyond the boundaries of Anga-Magadha where the Teacher Principally dwelt and preached. There is a tradition according to which Mahāvira is said to have visited Viibhaya, the capital of Sindhu-Sovira in order to ordain king Uddāyana. Though this
1. The same expression is used in the case of Usabha, see Infra, Dhammakahānuoga, 1,20 2. Kalpasūtra (5.117); also Acäranga (II, Cülikā 3). In this connection Aparajitasuri in his commentary on the Bhagavati-Aradhana (421, pp 611-15) has quoted the Svetambara canonical literature in support of Mahavira's moving about naked. Quoting the statement "varisam civarādhari tena paramacelago jino" from the Bhāvanā, the 24th section of the Acäranga, he has pointed out certain contradictions and difference of views in this connection, See Jagdishchandra Jain, Life in Ancient India, revised edition. Ch.I; Nathuram Premi, Jain Sahitya aur Itihās p.64 3. The account seems to be somewhat exaggarared; It is provided in the first section of the Acaranga. 4. Situated in Vajjabhumi in the country of Ladha, Kalpasūtra, 5.123 Com. 5. Ibid, Sū, 5.122
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