Jain Journal 1979 01

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

Page 10

Location of the Place of Enlightenment
of Lord Mahavira
KANHAYALAL SARAOGI
It is universally agreed and believed by all the sects of the Jainas that the last Tirthankara Lord Mahavira attained full knowledge at Jrimbhikagama on the northern bank of the river Rijukulya or Rijubalika under a Sala tree on Vaisakha sukla 10 in the afternoon. Regarding the further movements etc. of the Lord, we find two different stories. The Digambaras say that after attaining kaivalya or becoming all-knowing, Lord Mahavira going from place to place ultimately reached Vipula Hill in Rajagrha. He kept silence all the way and did not preach or give any discourse, because, according to them (the Digambaras) a Tirthankara will not speak unless and until a Ganadhara or a learned disciple is present there.
Indra, the king of gods, found out a very learned Brahmana, Gautama Indrabhuti, and brought him near the Lord so that he might speak. Thus Indrabhuti became the first follower and disciple of Lord Mahavira and after he was admitted to the Order, the Lord's superhuman dialogues started. This happened on the 1st day of Sravana.
The Svetambara story is a bit different. It tells us that the Lord after passing the 12th rainy season of his ascetic life at Campa (near Bhagalpur) and passing through Jrimbhikagama, Medhia, Chammani etc. had travelled to Pava and thence again to Jrimbhikagama. At Jrimbhikagama, he sat in meditation under a Sala tree in the field of one Syamaka, not very far from the old and dilapidated Vyavrit Caitya on the northern bank of the river Rijukulya. He was undertaking the sixth fast. It was in the afternoon, when the shadows had moved towards the east, when the sun had descended towards the western horizon, that he attained full knowledge and following the tradition he waited there for a while and started his preaching. But as there was no human being present at the time, no one took the vow of abstention. The Lord then perceived in his vision that a rich Brahmana Somila was celebrating a great yajña at Pava, in which the top ranking learned persons from different places were participating. The Lord thought it to be highly opportune and fruitful to go there and start his preaching.