Jain Journal 1967 04

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

Page 75

202
and several others. Then he took a trek of the western districts and There he converted Kundakolika into sometime at Gajapura and reached
reached Kampilya via Sravasti. the lay order. Then he spent Polasapura.
JAIN JOURNAL
At Polasapura there lived a rich potter named Saddalaputra who ran at least five hundred shops and who had hundreds of potters in his employ. He belonged to the Ajivaka sect and was a very devoted Ajivaka too. One night when he was asleep, he heard a divine voice intimating the arrival of the all-knowing and all-seeing 'mahā-brāhmana' next morning. Who else could this be, thought he, except his own master Mankhaliputra! He got up pretty early in the morning to receive his master when to his dismay he heard that Mahavira had arrived. But then he remembered the divine order and so he went forward to extend his invitation to the maha-brahmana, whosoever he might be. Mahavira accepted it and reached his pottery. They had a long dialogue on niyati (destiny) and puruşa-parakrama (manly effort) and Mahavira convinced him about the importance of manly effort. After this his conversion to Mahavira's lay order was just a matter of course. When this news reached Gosalaka, the head of the Ajivaka order, he became angry beyond limit. Gosalaka hurried to Polasapura with his retinue. He had hoped that the moment his disciple would see him, he would come back to the Ajivaka order. But when all his efforts and entreaties failed, Gosalaka went away disappointed. This was a severe blow to him which he could never overcome.
From Polasapura, Mahavira visited several places moving and preaching throughout the summer months. Before the onset of the monsoons he reached Vanijyagrama and settled there for the next few months.
22nd year, pre-Vikrama 491-90
After the monsoons, Mahavira reached Rajaghra. In the congregation, being influenced by his preachings, Mahasataka sought refuse under him. Another noteworthy event was the approach to Mahavira by a number of followers of Parsvanatha who had some of their doubts. and difficulties raised. When Mahavira gave them the convincing reply. they readily accepted him to be the all-knowing and all-seeing and sought conversion from the caturyāma (four-principled) religion of Parsva into panca-mahāvratātmaka (five-principled) religion of Mahavira which was readily granted. For many years these monks practised the five-principled religion and ultimately attained nirvāna. He also solved some of the difficulties of a monk called Roha regarding the priority of