Jainism and Mahavira

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Digambar Jain Sahitya Sanskriti Sanskaran Samiti

Page 48

Tirthankara Parsvanatha is undoubtedly a historic personage who flourished 250 years earlier than Mahavira at Varanasi. The Anguttaranikaya mentions the names of kings of Varanasi- Brahmadatta, Uggasena, Dhananjaya etc.' Parsvanatha belongs to the Ugravamsa which may have been named after ggasena and Vissasena may be recognised as his father. Brahmadatta is also said to have been a Jaina king who devoted his whole life for jainism. Vappa of Manorathapurni, the Buddha's uncle, was a follower of Parsvanatha tradition.
In early Pali literature various doctrines of Jainism have been acknowledged. They belong to Parsvanatha or Aristanemi. Parsvanatha was known as Purisajaniya or distinguished man according to the Anguttaranikaya. The Dharmottarapradipa (p.286) also refers to both Parsvanatha and Aristanemi. The Caturyamasamvara, which is attributed to the Nigantha Nataputta in the Samannaphalasutta, is in reality a teaching of Parsvanatha Some Niganthas mentioned in Pali literature are apparently followers of Parsvanatha. For instance, Vappao. Upali, Abhaya", Aggivessayana Saccaka', Dighatapassi Asibandhakaputta Gamani!4, Deva Ninka's, Upatikkha', Siha are lay followers while Sacca, Loha, Avavadika, Paticara 18 are lay women followers of the Parsvanatha tradition. They had later on become the followers of the Nigantha Nataputtals. Jacobi, therefore, says that Parsva was a historical person. Early life of Mahavira
Mahavira was born at Kundanapur (Vaisali) or Kundanagama. Jacobi indentified Kottigama of the Mahavagga with Kundagama of the Jaina Texts. Mahavira's perents Siddhartha and Trisala were
7. Anguttaranikaya, i. 290 8. See in detail the author's book " Jainism in Buddhist literature", pp. 120-124. 9. Anguttaranikaya, 11.196 H. 10. Majjhimanikaya, i.371 ff. 11. ibid. i. 392 ff. 12. ibid. i. 232 ff., MA. 1.450 13. ibid. i. 371 ff. 14. Samyuttanikaya, iv. 312 ff. 15. A name of Deva who utters a verse in praise of Nigantha Nataputta. 16. Mahavira i. 42 17. Samyuttanikaya, i. 571 ff. 18. Jataka,i.l; Therigatha. 19. Majjhimanikaya, i. 371 ff.