Jinamanjari 2001 09 No 24

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 16

Santinatha, Kuntanatha, Aranatha, Malinatha, Munisuvrata, Naminatha, Neminatha, Parsvanatha and Mahavira.
Mahavira, according to the Pratistasara Sangraha manuscript preserved in Arrah (Bihar), attained supreme knowledge at the age of forty-two years on the Rjupalika River after which he travelled from place to place and preached his religion called 'Jainism'. He practiced and propagated the principles of peaceful coexistence. He enjoined upon his followers to take the three-fold path called the 'Three Jewels' of Jainism --- right faith, right knowledge and right action, and dedicated himself to the development of a new creative social order for the healthiest orientation of the individual. Mahavira regarded the basic social values as ahimsa, aparigraha and anekantavada. He died at Pavapura (South Bihar at the age of seventy-two years (probably on 15-10-527 B.C.E.) and was contemporary with Gautama Buddha (c. 566 B.C.E.486B.C.E.), the founder of Buddhism. The main emphasis of Jainism is on leading a pious and virtuous life in order to one day attain moksa. Jainism places special emphasis on ahimsa. By the first century C.E. Jainism split into two sects called 'Svetambaras' and 'Digambaras'. With time it was further divided into the sub-sects of Valahari, Koti Muduva, Addakaligaccha, Kandigaccha, etc. In the Sravanabelgola inscription of Iruguppa of A.D. 1422, it reads:
May the glorious religion of the Jina be victorious-the religion of the lord of the three worlds, the unfailing criterion of which is the most profound doctrine of possibility.
One Kalinga Jaina sculpture carried away by a Magadha king (Nanda) was subsequently recovered by Kharavela and reinstalled according to Hathigumpha inscription of the early Christian era of Satavahanas. Kala Kasuri, a Jaina acharya, had visited the capital city of Satavahanas. There is evidence that the Jaina acharya, Simha Nandi was living in Ganga Peruru near Ontimitta of the Cuddapah District during the fourth century C.E. The late Chalukyas who ruled from Vatapi, followed Jainism and patronised it by giving donations to Jaina acharyas, viharas, etc.
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