I am Mahavira

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 38

I AM MAHĀVĪRA
29
WANDERINGS AND SERMONS
After realizing the true spiritual light and path, I gave my first sermon in Jşmbhika-village only. Many people came to listen to me. I, thus, made many sermons at different places. However, I realized that people are not understanding my sermons properly. I thought, "Let me have some scholarly disciples who could make things easier for me and the public."
It was fortunate that I got eleven scholars as my disciples.
They were noted in those times. Out of them, Indrabhooti Gautama
became my chief disciple. Now, I made my sermons through their
assistance. They made people to understand my sermons in the
popular language of Ardhamagadhi. That is why; the public could
now understand what I said in my sermons. Candanā also helped
me in this process.
I made my sermons at many different places. I traveled
many parts of Bhārata country involving Kashi, Kośala (in Uttara
Pradesh), Sūrasena (Mathura, U.P.), Magadha, Vaiśāli
(Bihar),
Kuru-Pāñcāla, Kalinga (Orisa), Kamboje, Valhika, Sindhu-Sauvīra, Gāndhāra and others. I wandered heavily for thirty years. I made
the maximum number of sermons on the mountain of Vipulācala