Jain Journal 2002 10

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

Page 11

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JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XXXVII. NO. 2 OCT, 2002 Such a vision arose in the forn of Lord Mahāvīra - a secr of truth, a fountain of compassion, a life of secking and self-realizing.
This spiritual path which he walked upon, had been sanctified hy twenty-three Tirthankaras before him, the 1st of whom was Lord Rşabhadeva and the 23rd was Lord Pārsva'. This paper will explore the social vision and religious insights of the great teacher through his geographical wanderings.
The journey begins at Kundagrama, a splendid city in the heart of Vaishali kingdom near modern Patna in 599 B.C. Born to king Siddhartha and queen Trisala, this divine child was named Vardhamāna. At birth itself, he was endowed with Srutajñāna (knowledge of testimony), Matijnāna (knowledge derived through the sense organs and the mind) and Avadhijñāna (clairvoyance). The presence of these three kinds of knowledge at birth is a reinarkable feature of a Thithankara.
Strong and fearless, this extraordinary boy grew up to be kind and religious as well. Detached to the riches and luxuries around him, he remained engrossed in contemplation about the problems of life and the world. He was deeply troubled by the adverse situations prevalent in society. Superstitions, animal sacrifices, inhuman treatment of women and Sūdras - awakened a silent revolution in him.
At the age of thirty, he embraced the life of a monk. Seated in a golden palanquin, in a magnificent procession followed by thousands of citizens, he moved to Jnatakhanda garden. There, under an Asoka tree, after observing a two day fast, he removed his princely attire and wore white robes. He then pulled out his hair by his hands and bowing to the Siddhas, the liberated souls, he initiated himself into the holy order. A princely life was renounced for a life of bareness and tolerance. Pledging to abstain from sinful deeds and tolerating hardships with cquanimity, he ventured on the path. Prince Vardhamāna became Sramnana Mahāvīra. He was now called Mahāvīra - the coura
C.D Sharma in his book. 'A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy. writes: "The Jainas believe in 24 Tīrthnkaras or 'Founders of the Faith' through whom their faith has come down from fabulous antiquity. Mahavira, the last of the twenty four Tirthankaras cannot be regarded as the founder of Jainsim because even before him. Jaina teachings were existent. But Mahavira gave a new orientation to that faith and therefore modern Jainism may be rightly regarded as a result of his teachings
The Jaina theory of knowledge includes, five degrees of knowledge that lead to omniscience. All the five are mentioned in this article as attained by Mahāvīra during specific contexts.