Jainism and Mahavira

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

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place at the Vipulacala (Rajagrha) about thirty miles away from Jrmbhiyagrama. The Digambara tradition replaces Maundraya, Putra, Maitraiya, and Andhavela to Vyakta, Mandita, Acalabhadra and Metarya.
Tirthankara Mahavira selected Indrabhuti Gautama as the Head of the Sangha and the Sangha was divided into four units, monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. Likewise, he arranged the system of religious leadership into seven units, Acarya, Upadhyaya, Sthavira, Pravartaka, Gani, Ganadhara and Ganavacchedaka. It may be mentioned here that Indrabhuti Gautama is quite deferent personality from the Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and contemperary to Mahavira.
It is said that the first discourse of appeal of Mahavira was ailure, but subsequently Ganadharas were converted. The Digambara tradition is of the view that even after obtaining Kevaljnana at Jrmbhikagarama, Mahavira moved around continuously for sixty six days observing silence and then converted the Ganadharas at Rajagrha where he preached before masses for the first time, and then visited for different places for the upliftment and betterment of the society rest of the life. After the attainment of Kevalajhana, Tirthankara Mahavira camped thirty years in the rainy seasons as follows: Rajagrha, Vaisali, Vanijyagrama, Rajagrha, Vanijyagrama, Rajagrha, Vaisali, Vaisali, Rajagrha, Vanijyagrama, Rajgrha, Campa, Mithila, Mithila, Vanijyagrama, Rajagrha, Vanijyagrama, Vaisali, Vaisali Rajagrha, Nalanda, Mithila, Mithila, Rajagrha, and Apapuri. This list of places gives an impression that Mahavira visited and preached the masses mostly in Bihar and some areas of Bengal and U.P.
The great kings like Prasenajit of Sravasti. Srenik Bimbisara of Magadha, Dadhivahana of Campa, Satanika of Kausambi, Jitasatru of Kalinga etc. were the followers of Mahavira. It appears that jainism had spread all over India. We do not know whether Mahavira ever visited South India. But Jaina Literature is of the view that Jainism was prevelent there even prior to Mahavira. The Pali sources inform that Jainism was the state religion of Shrilanka well before Sanghabhadra and Sanghamitra reached there.
21 Agama aur Tripitaka : Eka Anushiiana by Muni Nagaraj. pp 396-400,
Kalpasutra 122
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