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Jainism : The Cosmic Vision His followers came from all walks of life, from among kings and princes to ordinary persons. In all 14000 monks and 36000 nuns were initiated at Lord Mahavira's hand. A very large number of laymen and laywomen were his disciples.
Lord Mahavira founded a sangha or congregation of all these people. Such an organization is called a tirtha. So he came to be called Tirthankara. There has been no Tirthankara after him. Mahavira had completely conquered the pulls of attachment and aversion, and so he is also known as Jina. The followers of Jina are Jains.
Let us examine Lord Mahavira's concept of a nirgrantha monk, (a monk free from all ties) of his Shasana (dispensation). This monk must have a free mind replete with noble thoughts. He must be constantly observing the vow.of Ahimsa. He should not experience any of the complexes of samsara, of mind, having their source in personal relationship or in ideas of the egoistical self. He should not idle away a single moment. For food, clothing and shelter, man feels himself obliged towards a number of people in the Samsara. A nirgrantha monk is free from this dependence. As he always journeys on foot, he does not need a chariot, a cart or a horse. As he does not wear shoes on his feet, he has not to search for a shoe-maker. As he himself tears his hair, he does not need a hairdresser. His life is independent and free. He considers the difficult path to be a comforting one. The monk has only one aim before him. Explaining this aim Bhagwan Mahavira says : "How many obstacles an elephant leading an army in a battle suffers ! How many wounds he suffers ! Still he goes on. In the same way the monk progresses. The elephant does not care about being bound, cut to pieces or killed. His mind is fixed on the aim.
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