Jainism and Mahavira

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

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In pursuit of Knowledge
No substential references to his schooling are available in Pali or Prakrit literature except that a Brahmana teacher was astonished on hearing his scholarly answers to the questions asked as had been in case of the Buddha. He remained in the householdership upto the age of 30 where he could kindle in his mind the flame of emancipation from Karmas and through cultivation of self-realisation with perfection in non-violence, truth and celibacy. Mahavira left the home for the best and renounced the ego, attachment possessive instinct. The Acarangasutra gives an account of his pursuit of knowledge for twelve years when he roamed and camped in the following villages in the rainy seasons, viz. Astigrama (Vardhamana or Burdwan), Nalanda, Campa or Campapur, Prsthacampa, Bhaddila or Badrika (Pali Bhaddiya), Bhaddiya near Vaisali, Alabhiya (Pali Alavi), Rajagraha, Suvarnabhumi Sravasti, Vaisali, Campa, and Jambhiyagrama. During this period he also visited Panitabhumi and Vajrabhumi, the parts of rough terrians of Radha. During these years of his pursuit a number of incidents occurred in his life: calamities of Gopalakas, Sulapani, Agni, Tapta Dhuli, Lohargala, Kataputana, Sangama Candakausika, Karnasalaka niskasana, meetings with Makkhali Gosalaka, Sages of Parsvanatha tradition, separation with Gosalaka, etc. Eventually he attained the Kevalajhana in Jambhiyagrama in the thirteenth Varsavasa on Vaisakha Sukla Dasmi, April 23, B.C. 557). Jambhiyagrama may be identified with modern village Jamui situated on the bank of quil (Rjukula), near Rajagriha and Kevali where he attained kevalajnana.
Next day Mahavira reached Madhyama Pawa from Jrmbhikagrama where a Somila Brahamana organised a large sacrificial rite. Eleven great scholars were invited to perform the yajna. Mahavira had to wait for sixty five days. Due to paucity of appropriate scholars, preaching could not take place. Mahavira realised the necessity and appropriate time for propogating nonviolence before the scholars and their 4400 disciples. They were somehow attracted by the verstile personality and scholarship of Tirthankara Mahavira who replied to their philosophical questions and satisfied their queries. As a result, all the eleven Scholars (Indrabhuti Gautama, Agnibhuti, Vayubhuti, Vyakta, Sudharma, Mandita, Mauryaputra, Akampita, Acalabhadra, Metarya, and Prabhasa) became his disciples. This incident might have taken
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