History of Jaina Monachism

Author(s): S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute

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S. B. DEO
Followers of Mahāvīra :
At the time of the death of Mahāvīra, he had a large community of monks and layfollowers. He had Monks
14000 - under Indabhūi Nuns
36000 - under Candanā Laymen
159000 - under Sankhasataka Laywomen
- 318000 - under Sulasā and Revatī. Besides these he had quite a respectable number of monks having supernatural powers, of those who knew the Pūrvās, of debators and others. 93 Royal Patrons :
The birth of Mahāvīra in a semi-royal Kshatriya dynasty of the Nayas from his father's side, and his contact with the Licchavis from his mother's side, put him in a very favourable position, and we see him winning around him a strong royal support in the cause of the spread of his religion.
The Jaina texts mention a number of kings, queens, princes, princesses, ministers and merchants as the disciples of Mahāvīra. Kings like Kūņiya, 94 Cetaka,95 Seņiya, 96 Pajjoya,97 Dadhivāhana, 98 Udāyaņa,99 Virangaya, Virajasa, Sanjaya, Sankha, Kāsivaddhaņa100 and others were said to be his devout followers.
Queens like Prabhāvati of Udāyana,101 Mrgāvati and Jayanti of Kosambi,102 queens of king Śreņika and Pradyota 103 and princesses like Candanā, 104 the daughter of the king of Campā, were among his followers.
India, and north-western countries like Kamboja and Vālhika (JSB. XII, i, p. 17). But the text is certainly late, and the idea there is possibly an after-thought. It probably describes the spread of Jainism contemporary with itself. Regarding the ref. to Mahāvīra's visit to Sindhu-Sovīra (Bhag. pp. 556ff), JAIN rightly remarks: "It is quite possible that in later times, the Jainas did come in contact with the people of Sindhu-Sovira and to prove that their connection with that part of the country was not new, the story of Mahāvīra's visit seems to have originated".-Life in Ancient India, p. 261.
93. Kalpasūtra, SBE, xxii, pp. 267-68. 94. Aup. pp. 44-46. 95. Avas. C. II, p. 164. 96. Näyä, p. 146; Than, p. 4586; Uttar. XX. 97. Bhag. sū. 442. 98. Avas. C. II, p. 207. 99. Bhag. pp. 556ff. 100. Thān. p. 430b. 101. Avaśyaka. p. 299. 102. Bhag. 12. 2. 103. Avas. C. p. 91; Atgd. 7, p. 43. 104. Bhag. p. 458b.