________________
head. Padmāvatī also stood raising a white canopy. Angry Samvara attacked Dharaṇendra also with various weapons but Dharanendra effectively countered them. After this incident that place became popular as Ahicchatra.
OMNISCIENCE
Progressing in his śukla dhyāna (purest meditation) Bhagavāna reached the fourth loftiest level. He destroyed Mohaniya karma (deluding karma) followed by Jñanāvaraña, Darsanāvarana, and Antarāya karmas. Now he acquired omniscience. As soon he acquired omniscience all afflictions automatically ended. Gods and Indras came and worshipped him on this auspicious event of acquiring Kevalajñāna.
The establishment of the religious order and the first discourse was also accomplished there. Sitting on the throne in the divine pavilion Bhagavāna uttered the first divine words. From the Siddheśvara temple in Kalluragaddu (district Shimoga) an epigraph has been found according to which king Priyabandhu, the then ruler of Ahicchatra came to the Samavasaraņa to perform worship. Svyambhu, the king of Gajapura (Ayodhya) also came with his family and after paying homage got initiated. He became the head of the Gañadharas of Bhagavāna. His daughter, Prabhāvati also got initiated as an aryā (female ascetic) and became the head of the female ascetics (āryikā sangha). Rid of his feelings of vengeance, Saṁvara god also took refuge with Bhagavāna and became righteous.
The areas where Bhagavāna wandered for the spread of religion are – Anga, Banga, Kalinga, Magadha, Kaśī, Kausala, Avantī, kuru, Pundū, Pāñcāla, Vidarbha, Daśārna, Saurāştra, Karnāțaka, Konkaņa, Lāta, Kaccha, Kāśmīra, Sāka, Pallava, and Abhīra states. Archaeologist Major General Furlong believes that Bhagavāna also went to Tibet. Wherever he went he effectively influenced the masses and made them his devotees.
NIRVĀNA
Bhagavāna worked for promotion of religion for 69 years and seven months. At the prime age of 100 years he came to Sammeda
223
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org