Jain Journal 1967 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 73

200
JAIN JOURNAL
he gave an important discourse on Time (kāla). Other events included the initiation of Dhanya, Salibhadra and many others into monkhood. Monsoon months were spent at Rajagrha.
17th year, pre-Vikrama 496-95
At Campa, the Prince Mahacandra Kumara was so influenced by Mahavira's discourse that he joined the religious order. At this time King Udayana was the ruling monarch at Bitabhayapattana which was the capital of Sindhu Sauvira and many other countries. He was a follower of the path. One day he thought, “Sacred must be the lands where the Lord sets his feet ; fortunate must be the princes and people who can worship the Lord. If the Lord ever comes to the Mrigavana Park here, I too can worship him.” The Lord being omniscient, he knew of it at once and started for Bitabhayapattana. The place was a long way off. But Mahavira undertook the hazardous trek reaching that city and fulfilled the wishes of Udayana. Then he returned to his monsoon retreat at Vanijyagrama in Videha. For the monks, however, this was the severest ordeal to pass through the desert in the summer months. For miles together there was no trace of human habitation ; prescribed sort of food and water were difficult to get. After monsoon months, Mahavira started for Varanasi.
18th year, pre-Vikrama 495-94
Mahavira stayed at the Kosthaka caitya and initiated Culanipita and his wife Syama and Suradeva and his wife Dhanya into the order. Both these were exceedingly rich and henceforth became the strongest pillars of the order.
From Varanasi, on his way to Rajagrha, Mahavira spent some time in the Sankhavana Park at Alavia. Not far from this park there lived a wandering friar named Poggala who had made some spiritual progress. By dint of this elevation, he could see the position and movement of the gods upto the Brahmmaloka. Poggala, however, mistook this with the highest knowledge. So he returned to Alavia and began to propagate his views in the city. When Mahavira had dispelled his questionable views, he became convinced and joined the order and by dwindling his karma to nothing he ultimately attained the domain of the Liberated. Here at Alavia, Cullasataka and his consort and many others joined the lay order. On the way to Rajagrha he converted Mankati, Kinkrama, Arjuna, Kasyapa and many others into monkhood. This monsoon retreat was spent at Rajagrha.