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JAINA SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
away in the process is related' The first converts of Rsabha were Bambi and Sundari and Suyakıttı and Pıyamvaya "
In course of his teaching the first of the Tirthankaras taught his audience not only the elements of morality but also the rudimentary principles of science physiology psychology astronomy and geography * The other Tirthankarms followed in the foot steps of the pioneer till we come to Mahavira the last of the Tirthankaras.
Mahira came of the royal family of Kundapura or Vaisalı his father being Siddhartha king of the land He received a thoroughly perfect education becoming a royal prince in the Art school as well as in the Institutions of higher learning The courses of his studies embraced the various arts the Vedas together with their angas and the whole range of Brahmanical learning
He renounced the world at the early age of twenty-eight with the consent of his father and pursued a career of spiritual conquest of truth For twelve years he led a life of severe austerities and penance It is at this stage of his life that he adopted the practice of going naked. After twelve years of spiritual discipline and austerity he attained to Kevalinship or perfect knowledge Thereafter as Jacobi says He was recognized as omniscient is a prophet of the Jainas or a Tirthankara (founder of the path) and had the title Jina (spiritual conqueror) Maha vira (a great hero) etc. which were also given to Šakyamuni The last thirty years of his life he passed in teaching his religious system and organized his Order of ascetics which as we have seen above was patronised or countenanced chiefly by those princes with whom he was related through his mother From the Atmanusasana we learn that Mahavira had four names altogether "That last Tirthankara Mahavira Svamin is often referred to by four other names Vira Var dhamana Ati vira and Sanmatı "He was known among the Buddhists by the name of Nigantha Nataputta. His followers were drawn
4 Mahāpurāņa pp 606 610
5
Ibid p 167
6
Ibid pp 6161617
7 Jacobi Sacred Book of the East, pp 15 217
8
Shri Guna Bhadra Acārya Atmānusasana, ir by Rai Bahadur J L Jain, MA Bar-at Law p I
9 Maurice Winternitz vol II P 424
