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Jaina-Rūpa-Mandana According to traditional Svetambara calculations, the date of Mahāvira's Nirvāņa, at the age of 72, falls in 527 B.C.355
Mahāvira was born as the son of Siddhartha and Trišală, leaders of the Jñátç clan of the Ksatriyas of Kundapura (Kunda grāma), probably a suburb of the ancient city of Vaisali, the capital of Videha country. Svetambara Jaina accounts show that Mahāvira was first conceived in the womb of Devånandā, a Bråhmana lady residing in another suburb of Vaiśáli, known as Brahmanakundagräma. Seeing that no Jaina Patriarch was ever born of Brahmana blood, Sakra-Indra ordered his Commander of Infantry, Harinegameşin or Negameşin by name, to transfer the embryo to the womb of Trišala, wife of Ksatriya chief Siddhārtha. This Svetāmbara legend of the Transfer of Embryo is not known to Digambara sources who describe Mahavira as the son of Prince Siddhartha and his wife Priyakärinl, ruling at Kundapura, 356
According to Svetambara Jaina canon, Trisalā was the sister of king Cetaka of Vaisali,357 the capital of Videha and was, therefore, known as Videhadinnā (Videbadatta). The Digambara Purāpa Harivamsa (of Jinasena), composed in 783 A.D., addresses the mother of Mahavira as both Trišala and Priyakarini. According to this text as well as the Uttarapurāņa of Gunabhadra, Priyakärini was the daughter of Cetaka 358
Golden in appearance, Mahavira descended from the Pränata heaven, in the Hasta naksatra according to Svetambara belief and in the Uttrafalguni according to Harivamsa. His parents called him Vardhamana or the prosperous one because wealth, fame and merit of his family began increasing with his birth. Gods called him Mahavira or the Great Hero on account of his great valour, fortitude and hardiness in enduring hardships. 359 He was also known as Jñāts-putra or the Scion of the Jñāts Sect of the Ksatriyas.
An incident demonstrating his great valour in childhood is narrated by Jaina texts. Svetāmbara accounts call it Amalaki-krida (the game known as Amalaki) and describe it as follows:
Vardhamana was playing the Amalaki game near a tree with a group of lads when a god came to test the valour of the young would-be Jina. He first assumed the form of a big snake and went round the stem of the tree. All the boys except Vardhamāna were frightened and ran away while Vardhamana boldly approached the cobra, caught him and threw him away.360 According to Digambara account, god Sanga maka, who came to test the valour of Vira, assumed the form of a huge snake and entwining his body round the whole length of the stem of the tree frightened the lads playing on the branches. Vira, unperturbed, danced on the cobra's hoods (compare the Hindu legend of Krşpa dancing on the hoods of the Kaliya snake). The god was pleased at the courage and valour of the Lord and called him Mahavira.361 Svetambaras narrate one more test taken by this god. Leaving the form of a cobra, Sangamaka assumed the form of a human lad and joined the boys in their new game called the Tindusaka, 362 played between two boys every time wherein the victor was to be carried on shoulders by the vanquished. The god was defeated and Vardhamana mounted himself on the former's shoulders. Immediately the god assumed the form of a Piśāca (demon) and grew taller and taller. Undaunted, Vardhamana gave with his fist such a strong blow on the back of the Piśāca that the latter was obliged to give up all further attempts at mischief. The god then praised Vardhamana and called him Mahavira.363
In school, Indra came in the form of a Brahmana and asked Mahavira certain difficult questions on grammar which were immediately answered by young Mahāvira, to the surprise of the teacher and other pupils. Indra informed the teacher that Mahavira was a would-be Tirthaokara.304
According to Svetambara belief, Mahāvira was married to a princess named Yaśodá from whom he had a daughter Priyadarsa or Anojja by name. Anojja was given in marriage to one Jamali who later became a disciple of Mahavira and was responsible for the first schism in the Jaina Church.365 The Digambara sect does not believe that Mahavira was ever married but according to some scholars the difference is due to a misunderstanding of certain verses in the Paumacariyam, the Padmacarita of Ravişena and the Avasyaka Niryukti.366
According to both the sects, Mahavira took dikşā at the age of thirty. The Svetāmbaras say that his parents died when he was 28 years old; at the request of his elder brother Nandivardhana and others he stayed at home for about a couple of years. During this period he spent his time at home in observance of vows and in standing in meditation,367 The Kalpa-sūtra says: “A year before the Jinas retire from the
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