Jain Journal 1986 10

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

Page 22

124
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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." 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 has a great influence on the life of the people of Vaisali and Videha.10 Besides Mahavira, Vasupujya, the 12th Tirthankara, is said to have attained his nirvāṇa at Campapura (Bhagalpur) and Naminatha, the 21st Tirthankara, was born in Mithila. Mahavira himself is said to have spent twelve rainy seasons in Mithila.11 Mithila or Videha, therefore has 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.
JAIN JOURNAL
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 Videhan 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 humbled himself and enjoined by Sakra in person, the king of Videha (Mithila) left the house and took upon himself śramaṇa-hood.14 On the basis of these evidences, we can safely say that if not all at least a section among the Videhans were ardent followers of this faith. Apart from the Videhans, the Licchavis along with the Jnatrkas must have come directly under the influence of the teaching of Mahavira. The cases of Trisala, Siddhartha, Cetaka, Cellana and others suggest that the Licchavis had a distinct sympathy and respect for the Jainas. Furthermore, Cellana, one of the seven daughters of king Cetaka, was married to Bimbisara, with the result that both of them became ardent Jainas.15 And the other six daughters of Cetaka who married to different kings are also said to have been strong supporters and followers of Jainism.16
J. C. Jain, Life in Ancient India as depicted in the Jaina Canons, pp. 250-51. B. C. Law, Mahavira, p. 7ff.
10 Vinaya Texts (SBE, XVII), p. 108 ff; also see Thakur, op. cit.
11 Kalpa Sutra (vide B.C. Law, op. cit., p. 32 ff.)
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, pp. 147-69. 14 For different views, see U. Thakur, Studies in Jainism and Buddhism in Mithila, pp. 98 ff.
15 C. J. Shah, Jainism in North India, p. 88 ff.
16 Ibid.