Jain Journal 1988 07

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

Page 44

JULY, 1988
37
Buddha. The life of Mahavira reveals that when Mahavira arrived at Videha and stayed in Bahusala garden, Rsabhadatta and Devananda came to see him. It is said that Mahavira had been in the womb of Devananda for eighty two days before being transferred to the womb of Trisala and thus the latter was his mother. Mahavira explained this fact here to the assembled persons.23 In his same visit, Jamali24 and his wife took dikşā from Mahavira with their five hundred and one thousand followers respectively.25 Jamali is said to have separated from Mahavira later on and have organised his own cult. Nami, King of Mithila, was a Pratyeka Buddha and embraced Sramana-hood by himself. 26
The Janapada of Campa had also Jaina followers and Mahavira stayed here during three rainy seasons in the course of his religious wanderings. The Uvāsagadasão27 refers to the story of Kamadeva, who received teachings of Mahavira and for that he was threatened by a certain false and lying god. But Kamadeva overcame the threats and lived peacefully. The Life of Mahavira also shows that people from general masses like Gogali and his parents took dikşā from the Tirthankara.28
Jainism was very much popular in modern region of Uttar Pradesh also. During the 19th year of his asectic life, when Mahavira reached Varanasi, a wealthy merchant, Cullanipita, and his wife, Sama, listened the highly instructive preachings of Mahavira and took the vows of a householder, forsaking everything and remained in perfect calmness in religious meditation.29
The Uvāsagadasão also narrates the story of Cullanipita and informs that both the husband and wife were threatened by some evil god for their being a Jaina. In the last, they won and kept themselves engaged in meditating as instructed by Mahavira.30
23 Sraman Bhagwan Mahavira, Vol. II, Pt. II, pp. 200-206. 24 Who, according to the Svetambaras, was married to the daughter of Mahavira
named Priyadarsana. 25 Sraman Bhagwan Mahavira, Vol. II, Pt. II, pp. 206-231. 26 Uttaradhyayana Sutra, IX, 61 ; XVIII, 45 (SBE, XLV, pp. 41-87); JBRS
Vol. XLV, p. 198. 27 vv. 91-125. 28 Sraman Bhagwan Mahavira, Vol. II, Pt. II, pp. 580-94. 29 Ibid., pp. 343-46. 30 Uvasagadasao, vv. 126-144.
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