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JAINISM IN BIHAR
Bihar has a very great role in the story of Jainism. The last Tirthankara of Jainism was Vardhamana, also called Mahavira, who was born on the soil of Bihar. His father was Siddhartha, the Nathavansi Ksatriya chief of Kundalapural in Videha, which stands now identified with Kundalapura near Nalanda in Patna district. Vardhamana Mahavira led a domestic life till his thirtieth year. Then he took dikşā and practised austerities for twelve years. He obtained kevala jñāna at the age of fortytwo. He continued in his kevala jñāna for another thirty years and obtained nirvāna at seventytwo years at Pawapuri in the district of Patna.
A common mistake has been made by some of the recent writers in holding that Jainism was born because of discontent against Brahmanism. This wrong theory originates because these writers have taken Vardhamana Mahavira as the founder of Jainism. This is not a fact. It is true that historicity of the other Tirthankaras lies buried in the lap of hoary times long before history came to existence, but at least there is a certain amount of historicity regarding Parsvanatha, the twentythird Tirthankara. The creed had already originated and spread and Mahavira propagated it within historic times and that is probably the reason why this mistake has been made.
Not much research is possible in the pre-historical age as to the role Bihar played in the story of Jainism but some of the ancient Jaina scriptures mention that Jainism had been preached in Magadha (Bihar) by Lord Rsabha at the end of Stone Age and the beginning of Agricultural Age. At that remote period Magadha was separated from the rest of India by Gangasagara. The ancient history of Nepal bears this out also.
It is from the land of Bihar again that the fountain of Jainism spread its influence in Mahavira's time to the different parts of India. Many of the chiefs in different parts of India were converted to Jainism. The grand-son of Asoka, Sampriti, was converted to the creed and spread the gospel of Jainism not only in different parts of India, but even in the distant land of Afganisthan. There is no doubt that tenets of Jainism had spread far and wide more because of their human appeal. Among the kings of Bihar who followed Jainism mention may be made of Srenika (Bimbisara), Kunika (Ajatasatru), Cetaka, Jitasatru, Nandivardhana, Candragupta, Sampriti and Salisuka.
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