Jaina Philosophy

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 23

JAINA PHILOSOPHY : AN INTRODUCTION
all afflictions and calamities with undisturbed mind. During the thirteenth year on the tenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Vaišākha the Venerable Ascetic obtained omniscience under a Sāla tree in the farm of Syāmāka on the northern bank of river Rjupālikā outside the town of Jşmbhikagrāma. He preached the Law in the Ardhamāgadhi language, taught five great vows etc., initiated Indrabhūti (Gautama) and others and established the four-fold Order (monks, nuns, male lay-votaries and female lay-votaries).
Lord Mahāvīra passed the last thirty years of his life as the omniscient tīrtharkara. He spent his last rainy season at Pāpā (Pavapuri). On the fifteenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Kārttika the Lord attained liberation there at the age of seventy-two. The eighteen confederate kings of Kāśī and Kośala (and eighteen kings) belonging to the Mallaki and Lecchaki clans were present there at that time. Thinking that the spiritual light of knowledge has vanished with the passing away of the Lord they made a material illumination by lighting lamps.
Lord Mahāvīra was the head of an excellent community of 14000 monks, 36000 nuns, 159000 male lay-votaries and 318000 female lay-votaries. The four groups designated as monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen constitute the four-fold Order (tirtha) of Jainism. One who makes such an Order is known as tirthařkara. Tirthařkara Mahāvīra's followers coinprised three categories of persons: ascetics, lay-votaries and sympathisers or supporters. Indrabhūti (monk), Candanā (nun) etc. form the first category. Sankha (layman), Sulasā (laywoman) etc. come under the second category. Sreņika (Bimbisāra), Kūņika (Ajātasatru), Pradyota, Udāyana, Cellaņā etc. form the third category. The tirthankara's tīrtha or sangha consisted of only the first two categories. Sudharman, Jambu, Bhadrabāhu and Sthulabhadra :
Of the eleven principal disciples (ganadharas) of Lord Mahāvīra, only two, viz... Indrabhūti and Sudharian survived