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Epithets of Lord Mahāvira in Early Jaina Conons
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venerable person amongst many such ascetics (9. 1.4, 15; 9. 2. 5, 6. 15; 9. 3. 12, 16; 9. 4, 1, 3, 5; 9.3.7; 9. 4. 12; 9. 1. 23 ; 9. 2. 6.
Though he was not omniscient (Chaumatthe vi 9. 4. 15) he was akasai-withot any defilement and was also vigayagehi-without any longing ( 9. 4. 15).
It is clear that though he is given an epithet like Bhagavam, he is not called here in this portion Tirthankara. And as regards Bhagavaṁ we should note here that even in the later portion of the canon even the ordinary Sramaņas and Sthaviras are called Bhagavanta (II. 71, 162). In fact, there was a rule that an ascetic should address even an ordinary woman as 'Bhagavati' (II. 134). This indicates that the term 'Bhagavam' was not used for a leader or the head of a sect, and though a term for showing respect it did not had the meaning of an exalted person.
As a preacher and a head of a sect
Now we turn to the preaching portion contained in the first eight chapters of the Acärānga part I. Here in many places the terms Vira' and 'Malāvira' are used but it should be noted that they do not refer to Lord Mahāvira but to other persons who have shown valour in their ascetic life. (1. 172; 1. 185, 188; 1. 140). We should also note that though while describing Mahavira's ascetic life he is called Vira' as well as Mahāvira', as we have seen, we must conclude that there is the tendency towards the fact that Mahāvira should become his name. This also is clearly established by the fact that the Pali Pitakas mention MahāvỊra as Nigaộtha Nāțaputta and not as Mahāvira. So we can conclude that Lord Mahāvira became famous by that name after the time of Pali Pitaka.
In this part Lord Mabāvira is referred to as ‘Nāyaputta' (8. 8. 12), ‘Mābaņena maimayā’ (200, 206), *Taal (1, 10, 15, 16, 23, 45, 52, 58, 90, 185, 215, 214, 216, 220,). Once he is referred to as "au gàu TÆTUT FITTAT, CTACT (200). Here we see that he is called Asuprajña and also having to and HT. At other place he is called Kausala' (166). But nowhere he is referred to as Tirthai kara. In Diighanikaya etc.though he is given the epithet Tirthankara, it is significant that in Ācārānga part I nowhere he is referred to as such. This may signify that this portion of the Acărānga is anterior to Dighanikā ya.
Lord Mahāvira in this part is called 'Muni' (153, 159) being ranked with other such ‘munis'.
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