ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 327

पाथ पर
B.1.4.1.1
Mahāvīra, Prakrit and the Agamas (Language of the Jaina Āgamas)
Dr. Kamal Chand Sogani
It is incontrovertible that the 6th Century B.C. witnessed the rise of the 24th Tirthamkara, Mahāvīra who played a dominant role in shaping the cultural history of India. Owing to the magnetic personality of Mahāvīra and his metaphysical, ethical and spiritual teachings, number of kings, queens, princes, princesses, ministers and merchants accepted him as their teacher. Thus males and females of all castes and classes became the ardent followers of Mahāvīra and a fourfold order of Sādhus (male ascetics), Sādhvis (female ascetics), Śrāvakas (male householders) and Śrāvikās (female householders) came into existence. He revolted against the socio-religious exploitation and oppression of man and introduced vigorous innovations in the then existing social law and order. In fact, he serves as an illustration both of spiritual realization and social reconstruction.
Mahāvīra was born on the 27th March 598 BC at Kșatriya Kumdagrāma (Kumdalapura) now known as Vasukumda or Vāsukumda about 50 KM. to the North of Patna. Along with the birth of Mahāvīra prosperity increased, so King Siddhāratha and queen Trišalā call their son, Vardhamāna. Because of controlling and pacifying and a muck elephant, the people of Kumdalapura addressed him by the name "Ativīra". By seeing the poisonous cobra, Vardhamāna fearlessly played with it so the Samgama Deva who assumed the form of a cobra, bestowed on him the honour of being "Mahāvīra". In the Buddhist text, he is referred to as the Niggantha Nātaputta.
Gradually Mahāvīra attainted adulthood. In spite of this, worldly pleasures did not attract him. In consequence he decided to lead a life of asceticism. After receiving the consent of his parents, he relinquished all mundane pleasures so as to attain Siddhahood and in consequence he assumed complete nudity and become a Nirgramtha. This is known as Mahāvīra's Abhiniskramna, that is, the great Renunciation of Mahāvīra. This renunciation took place on Monday the 29th December 569 B.C. at the age of 30 and from that time Mahāvīra moved as a Nirgramtha Muni i.e. a naked ascetic.
Since Mahāvīra regarded meditation (Dhyāna) as the clear and single road by which the aspirant can move straight to the supreme good, he selected isolated and lonely places such as forest, cremation ground, caves, and mountain tops for performing Dhyāna (meditation).
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0