Jain Journal 1978 04

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

Page 27

APRIL, 1978
Mithila (from his mother's side)." According to the Jainas, Mithila or Videha was included in the Jaina Aryan countries. These countries were known as Aryan for it is said that the Titthayaras, the Cakkavattis, the Baladevas and the Vasudevas were born here. These great men are said to have attained omniscience in these countries and by attending to their preaching a number of people were enlightened and had taken to ascetic life. In Vaisali Mahavira is said to have had a large number of staunch supporters and followers among the Licchavis and the Videhans.9 Some of his followers appear to be men of the highest position. We are told in the Buddhist literature that even during the life time of Buddha, Mahavira had a great influence on the life of the people of Vaisali and Videha.10 Besides Mahavira, Vasupujya, the twelfth Tirthankara, is said to have attained his nirvāṇa at Campapura (Bhagalpur) and Naminatha, the twenty-first Tirthankara was born in Mithila. Mahavira himself is said to have spent twelve rainy seasons in Mithila." Mithila or Videha, therefore, has a much greater claim on Mahavira whose personality and teachings rapidly built up Vaisali as centre of Jainism and of the spiritual discipline and asceticism upon which it was based.
Besides the blood-relationship, which Mahavira had with the Videhans as shown above, there are certain other indications in the Jaina canonical texts which definitely point to the Videhans taking great interest in the Jaina Church. Nimi (or Nami or Nemi), the founder of the Janaka dynasty of Mithila12 is represented in the Jaina Sutras as having embraced Jainism. We are told in the Uttaradhyayana Sutra13 that 'Nami, the king of Videha (Mithila), humbled himself and eulogized by Sakra in person, left the house and took upon himself Sramanahood.14 On the basis of these evidences, we can safely say that if not all, at least a section among Videhans, were ardent followers of this faith. Apart from the Videhans, the Licchavis along with the Jnatrikas must have come directly under the influence of the teachings of Mahavira. The cases of Trisala, Siddhartha, Cetaka, Cellana and others suggest that the Licchavis had a distinct sympathy
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7 For details of Mahavira's birth-place, see Jacobi, Jaina Sutra, pt. ii, (SBE. Vol XXII, Intro. X-XII); Stevension, The Heart of Jainism, 21-22, 28; also see U. Thakur, Studies in Jainism and Buddhism in Mithila, pp. 81ff.
8 J. C. Jain, Life in Ancient India as depicted in the Jaina Canons, 250-51. B. C. Law, Mahavira, p. 7ff.
10 Vinaya Texts (SBE. XVII), p. 108ff; also see U. Thakur, op. cit.
11 Kalpa Sutra (Vide B. C. Law, op. cit., p. 32ff)
12 For details of Janaka Dynasty, see U. Thakur, History of Mithila, Ch. II. 13 IX. 61; XVIII. 45. (SBE. XLV, pp. 41, 87); also see Meyer, Hindu Tales, 147-69.
14 For different views, see U. Thakur, Studies in Jainism and Buddhism in Mithila, pp. 98ff.