________________
Pārsvanātha and Vardhamāna Mahāvīra
The teachings of Pārsvanatha
Pārsvanātha believed in the eternity of matter.78 His followers preached that self-control causes the cessation of karma, and penance leads to its annihilation.79 He laid special emphasis on ahiṁsā (non-violence). 80 Pārsvanātha propounded the cãturyāma dharma or a four-point religion.81 The four-fold path of Pārsva enjoined on his followers four great vows, i.e., (1) not to injure life; (2) to be truthful; (3) not to steal; and (4) nonpossession.82 Mahāvīra converted the four-fold path of Pārsva into five mahāvratas by adding the doctrine of chastity or celibacy to it.83
It would be wrong to think that the four-fold religion preached by Pārsvanātha did not include the doctrine of celibacy. In fact, the principle of celibacy is automatically implied in non-possession. 84 Pārsva allowed his disciples to wear an upper and an under garment; Mahāvīra, on the other hand, prescribed complete nudity. 85 But even this difference was outward and superficial rather than real.86 In fact, the fundamental principles of Pārsva and Mahāvīra were substantially identical.87
Both Pārsva and Mahāvīra believed that right knowledge, right faith and right conduct were essential for the attainment of moksa. The discussion between Kesin, a disciple of Pārsva, and Gautama or Indrabhūti, a disciple of Mahāvīra, which is embodied in chapter twenty-three of the Uttaradhyayana-Sūtra, is significant to note. In reply to a question by Kesin,
78. AOIU, p. 411. 79. Ibid. 80. Uttarādhyayana-Sutra, 23.12, cited in JSS, p. 10 fn. 5; LDJC, p. 23; ADIU, p. 411;CHI,
I, p. 154; JSS, p. 10. 81. Uttarādhyayana-Sūtra, 23.12, op. cit.; JSS, p. 10. 82. Ibid., 23.12, op. cit.; JSS, p. 10; LDJC, p. 23; CHI, I, p. 154; AOIU, pp. 411-12. 83. Ibid., 23.12; JSS, p. 10 fn. 9; CHI, I, p. 154; AOIU, pp. 411-12. 84. Uttaradhyayana, 23, cited in JSS, p. 14 fn. 23; AOIU, pp. 411-12; JSS, p. 14. 85. CHI, I, p. 154; JSS, pp. 10-11; LDJC, p. 23. 86. LDJC, p. 23; JSS, p. 11. 87. Ibid.
