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JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XXXVII, NO. 2 OCT, 2002
Jambhiyagrāma on the banks of the Rjubaluka River. It was the tenth day of the bright half of Vaišākha inonth. Fasting for two and a half days, mcditating under a huge sāla tree in the Godohika (milking) posture facing the sun, this ascetic attained Kevalajñāna (the fifth degree of knowledge-omniscience)- a state of infinite knowledge, infinite intuition, infinite energy and infinite bliss.
"Now the Venerable ascetic Mahāvīra became a Jina (conqueror), an Arhat (worthy of worship) and a Kevali (omniscience). He became the twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the present era."+(K sūtra, 121). Hercafter Sramana Mahăvīra came to be known as Bhagavān Mahāvīra.
The inner journey unfolded further. The jouncy hereafter was that of the teacher, the guide, and the preacher. After attaining omniscience, Lord Mahāvīra began to give discourses. As before, he wandered from one place to another on foot. From Jambhiyagräma he moved on to Madhyama Pāvāpuri. There, a Brahmin named Somila, was organizing a large religious sacrifice. Several Vedic scholars along with their disciples were assembled there; chief among them was Indrabhūti Gautama. They had all heard of Lord Mahāvīra's enlightcnment but were disbelieving it.
As soon as Indrabhūti saw Mahāvīra, Mahāvīra addressed him. Oh Indrabhūti! You have doubts about the self. How did Mahāvīra know? Indrabhūti had not uttered a word regarding this doubt about the existence of the soul. So, it is true, thinks Indrabhūti, he being a kevali, he must have completed his knowledge about all things of all times. The universe has no secrets from such a being. All is known. All is transparent. Indrabhūti was completely humnbled.
Equally humbled were ten other eminent Vedic scholars of that gathering who came forward to ineet Mahāvīra , cach of them with a different metaphysical doubt lingering in the mind. To each of them, Mahāvīra first revealed the doubt without their stating the same and then put forward convincing replies. No further proof was required, nothing more was needed to establish Mahāvīra as a true teacher. Fully satisfied and happy, all of them along with their 400 disciples cach, surrendered at the feet of master. Thus 4411 initations took place in a single day.
This is the meaning of Tirthankara - one who establishes the
* The universe is described in Jainism as an eternal cycle of Yugas, further subdivided into 6 periods.
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