Jainism in Bihar

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

Page 30

certain sections of the Swetambars and the Digambars appear to accept Vaisali to be the birth-place of Mahavira Swami. But Vaisali cannot be said to be the undisputed birth-place of Mahavira. A village, Cherand, in Saran district was at one time pushed up as the site of Vaisali. The old Saran District Gazetteer mentions this fact.
Dr. Hoe held this view.
It may also be mentioned that the Jain images are mostly either in Padmasan or Khadagasan mudras. They are also characterised by Nasagraha-drishti and by Veetaraga Mudra. The gaze is fixed to the top of the nose and there is an air of sublime detachment. The Digambar Jaini images are characterised by their nudity and the left palm is on right palm and no offerings of jewels or ornaments are made. The Swetambar Jaini images are conspicuous by loin-cloth, the right palm being on left palm and offerings of jewels and ornaments are made.
Both the Swetambar and the Digambar Jains agree on the concepts of Shristi (), Anadi (f), Nitya (f) and that Ahinsa is the basis of Japa (9), Tapa (79), Dhyana (), Kriya (1), Kanda (1) leads to salvation and Mukti is
and that renunciation obtained by Samyak Darshan (सम्यक् दर्शन), Samyak Jnana ( सम्यक् ज्ञान) and Samyak Charitra ( सम्यक् चरित्र ).
One remarkable feature of Jainism has been that inspite of internal schism the creed has not died. The initial schisms were quite a few. The clash with the Ajivikas and then the separation between the two sects Digambars and Swetambars are the main schisms. It is not necessary here to dwell at length on the different traditions and beliefs of the Digambars and the Swetambars. C. J. Shah in his "Jainism in North India" at page 74 has quoted from Sir Charles Elliot regarding the schism as follows:
"It is therefore probable that both Digambaras
14