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OF THE HINDUS.
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of the legends related of each of the Jinas. They are all born a number of times, and in a variety of characters, before they arrive at the state of a Tirthankara: after which, as their attainment of divine knowledge is the work of self-denial and ascetic meditation, we need not expect much varied incident in their adventures. A sketch of the life of MaHÁVIRA, from the Mahavira Charitra, will convey some notion of their ordinary history, whilst further illustration may be derived from an abstract of the Parsvanutha Charitra, or life of PÁRÁVANÁTH, in the Royal Asiatic Society's Transactions *.
LIFE OF MAHÁVÍRA. The twenty-fourth Tirthankara Mahkvira's first birth, which occurred at a period indefinitely remote, was as NAYASára, head man of a village, in the country of Vijaya, subject to SATRUMARDANA. His piety and humanity elevated him next to the heaven called Saudharma, where he enjoyed happiness for some oceans of years. He was next born as MARichi, the grandson of the first Tirthankara RISIIABHA, then transferred to the Brahmaloka, whence he returned to earth as a worldly-minded and sensual Brahman, the consequence of which was his repeated births in the same caste, each birth being separated by an interval passed in one of the Jain heavens, and each period of life extending to many lakhs of years. He then became VIŠVADHÚTA, prince of Rájagriha, and next a Vásu
* [I, 428.]
