Jain Journal 1967 04

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

Page 77

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JAIN JOURNAL
Via Kasi, he returned to the Gunasila caitya at Rajagrha. At this time a number of followers of Parsva were stationed in a nearby caitya and were preaching the four-principled religion. When Indrabhuti Gautama went to Rajagrha to collect alms, he heard the contents of their discourses which raised doubts in his mind. He came back to Mahavira and sought clarification which the Master gave supporting the views of Parsva's followers. The same year a number of monks of the Order discarded their mortal frame through fasting and attained god-hood. The monsoon retreat was spent at Rajagrha.
25th year, pre-Vikrama 488-87
On the completion of monsoon retreat, he set his foot towards Campa which, after the death of Srenika, was now the capital-city of Magadha under Kunika. He halted at the Purnabhadra caitya here. He was received by the king with the entire body of citizenry behind him. Being influenced by Mahavira's discourses, ten grand-sons of Srenika and many other citizens of wealth and influence embraced monkhood. On his way to Videha, he converted Gāthāpati Ksemaka, Dhrtidhara and others into monkhood and stayed at Mithila during the rainy months.
26th year, pre-Vikrama 487-86
Mahavira went towards Anga. At this time a bloody war was raging at Vaisali which had been attacked by Kunika, the king of Magadha, and Vaisali was being defended by a confederation of eighteen kings. When Mahavira came to the Purnabhadra caitya at Campa, he was acquainted with the war situation. Even the widows of the late king Srenika whose sons had gone to the war-front came to enquire about their future welfare and were in turn so influenced by Mahavira's words that they renounced the world. The rains were passed at Mithila.
27th year, pre-Vikrama 486-85
From Mithila, Mahavira reached Sravasti by side-tracking Vaisali. Kunika's brother Halla and Behalla who were the main causes of the Vaisali warfare somehow reached him and entered the religious order. At Sravasti, he stayed at the Kosthaka caitya. Gosalaka too was stationed here at this time and had declared himself to be a Tirthankara. When Indrabhuti Gautama had gone to collect his alms, he had heard people saying that these days there were two Tirthankaras moving at Sravasti. He returned to the Kosthaka caitya and narrated what he had heard. About 18 years back Gosalaka indeed was an ardent follo