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I AM MAHĀVĪRA
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1. Mankhali Gośāla : The Ājivika : Determinist
Gośāla was the son of a bard-cum-painter. He learnt his
paternal profession and followed it. Later, he developed repugnance for worldly life. While in Nālandā, I accepted him to accompany me on his second request when I was running my second year of initiation. (i.e. when I was 32 years old). He wandered with me for about six years. In due course of time, he became determinist and we had doctrinal differences. He left me when I was 38, and declared himself as Jina in Śrāvasti. This city remained the major area of his influence. He taught determinism to the people. Earlier, he learnt the process of acquiring the supernatural power from me. Once, he got angry on one of my disciples and utilized his power of anger on him. I also became a victim of his spiritual power in a debate to which I retaliated. He got seriously ill and died in Śrāvasti sixteen years before me (i.e. about 543 B.C.) 2. Jāmāli: 'Principle of being done’ is 'Not Done'
Jāmāli was my relative and belonged to a noted Kștriya clan. He was initiated under me. He studied canons and undertook harsh austerities. He asked me to wander solitarily. During his wanderings in Śrāvasti, he got seriously ill. He thought of a different doctrine in terms of 'Being Done' is not 'Done' It is called 'done' only at the last stage. He debated on this doctrine with me in
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