Jainism in Bihar

Author(s): P C Roy Choudhary
Publisher: P C Roy Choudhary Patna

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CHAPTER 1
JAINISM AND BIHAR Bihar has a very great role in the story of Jainism. The last Tirthankar, or the path-finder, of Jainism was Vardhaman, also called Mahavira, who was born on the soil of Bihar. His father was Sidhartha, the Nathvanshi Kshatriya chief of Kundalpur in Videha, which stands now identified with Kundalpur near Nalanda in Patna district. Vardhaman Mahavira led a domestic life till his thirtieth year as a Brahmachari. Then he took Diksha (initiation) and practised Sannyas (asceticism) for 12 years. He obtained Kaivalya Jnana, or omniscience, at the age of 42. He continued in his Kaivalya Jnana for another thirty years and obtained Nirvana at 72 years. After he had obtained Kaivalya Jnana, Mahavira started propagating the religion, the creed of Jainism. The followers were known as the Jains, as they were called before.
The creed of Jainism was in existence from long before and Mahavira Vardhaman, the 24th or the last Tirthankar, only gave a great fillip to it. After spending about thirty years in propagating the Jain religion, Mahavira obtained Nirvan (ascension) at Pawapuri in the district of Patna.
A common mistake has been made by some of the recent writers in holding that Jainism was born because of discontent against Brahmanism. This wrong theory originates because these writers have taken Vardhaman Mahavira as the founder of Jainism. This is not a fact. It is true that the historicity of the other Jinas lies buried in the lap of hoary times long before history came to existence, but at least there is a certain amount of historicity regarding