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LIFE IN ANCIENT INDIA
and he related the above account of Gosala's life and denied his claim to Jinahood. When Gosāla heard this he was greatly annoyed He called Ananda, a disciple of Mahavira and told him that, if his teacher cvcr came in his way, he would destroy him by his magic power Ananda went to Mahāvira and told him what Gosāla had said. Mahāvira admitted Gosāla's power, but added that it could have no effect on an Arhat, because the magic powers of the latter were still greater He further told Ananda to forbid his followers to hold any intercourse with the herctical Gosala. In the meantime Gosāla with his followers went to Vahāvila and said that his pupil, Gosāla Mankhaliputta, is long since dead, while he was really Udãyi Kundiyāyaniya He then proceeded to explain m detail his theories and enumerated his own seven births. In rcply Mailvira told him that he acted like a thief imagining that he could not be recognised. Gosāla now getting angry, hegan to abuse Mahavia and destroyed hus two disciples by means of his magic power Nou God shot forth his magic power of destruction against Mahāvit., au declined that he would die of bilious fever within six months But Mahāyila replied that he would yet live sixteen years longer, while on thc contrary, Gosāla's magic power would recoil on him and that he would peush or bilious fever within seven days. The rumour of this disputc spread through the town and there was much discussion ainong the pcoplc as to whose threat would prove true Now Mahavira told his ascctics that they might go to Gosāla and woriy him with questions and discussions Cosāla returned to Hālāhala's shop, where in the delirium of fever, hcgali chimself up to drinking, singing, dancing, soliciting Hālāhali and spinkling himself with cool muddy water. On this Maháví) a look occasion 10 explain his followers that the magic power discharged by Gosalat was powerful enough to cause the destruction of the people of the exteen traditional janapadas. At this time a layman of the Ajiuiya seçt, happened to go to visit Mankhaliputta, but observing him in his delirious statc lic felt ashamed and wanted to retire quictly, but the theras about Markhallputta called him to stay Later on feeling certain of his death Mankhalıputta instructed his theras to bury him after his death with every mark of honour and to proclaim publicly that with him the last Ti, thanhana had passed away
But, as the Jain canons would make us believe, at the last moment, overwhelmed by the sense of his evil deeds, he declared that Mahavira alonc was the true Jina and that Mankhalı himself was a wicked man, and that his Theras should bury him with cvcry mark or dishonour and publicly proclaim his shame Gosāla died and was born as a dera in the heaven. It is said that in course of time he would attain salvation 117
AJIVIKA AN IMPORTANT SECT It seems from the Jain and Buddhist records that the sect of the Arizrkas was an important sect and the Ajīvikas exercised considerablc m
117 Rhag, 16, Dr. Hoernle's appendix to Uvasagadasão.
