Life in Ancient India as Depicted in Jain Canons

Author(s): Jagdishchandra Jain
Publisher: New Book Company

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HISTORY OF THE JAIN CHURCH
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refers to Pundariya who plucked out his hair and accepted the four vows." The city of Tungiya is stated to have been the centre of the theras, the followers of Pārsva, who moved in a congregation of five hun. dred monks. It is said that the lay adherents of the town went to attend to their religious sermons and were highly delighted The names of the theras Kāliyaputta, Mehila, Anandarakkhiya and Kāsava are particularly mentioned here.18. Further, the Näyādhammakahale and the Niryavaliyão ao refer to a number of lay women who joined the order of Pārsva. We hear of the renunciation ceremony of the old maiden (vaddakumārī), Kālī, who joined the ascetic order of Pārsva and was cntrusted to Pupphacūlā, the head of the nuns al
Further, the Süyagadangaa mentions Udaya Pedhālaputta, a Nigantha follower of Pārsva of thc Meyajja (Skr Aledārya) golta Tlicrc werc religious discussions between him and Goyama Indabhūi, aflcr which the latter took him to Mahāvīra, where hc gave up the doctrine of four restraints and took up the five great vows, as ordained by the Teacher The Rajapaseniyaarefers to a young monk (kumārasamava) 24 named Kesi, who was a follower of Pārsya and know fourteen Pūrvas Once he visited the town of Savatthi in a congregation of five hundred monks The charioteer Citta attended his religious sci mons and invited him to Seyaviyā In course of time, Kesi visited Scraviyā where a discussion took place between him and king Paesī, and the latter being convinced of his opponent's doctrinc became an adherent of the Samanas. Kesi is also referred to in the Uttarādhyayana Süha where an important historical mceting is recorded to have taken place between him and Goyama, the representatives and Icaders of the two branclics of the Jain Church, in Sāvatthi. In this council many important questions were discussed and finally Kesi accepted the fivc-fold vows proached by Mahāvīra.25
It must be mentioned that the crcdit of proving the existence of the Nigganthas before Nātaputti Mahavira on the sticngth of references in Pali literature belongs to Professor Jacobi.20 It is stated in the Samaññaphala sutta of the Digha Nikaya that a Nigantha is 1 cs Liained with a four-fold restraint ( cāluyama-samvaia) 'He is restrained as regards all water, restrained as regards all cvil, all cvil has he washed away, and he lives suffused with the sense of evil held at bay.17 Because of this
17 19, P 218. 28 Bhag 2. 5. 19 Il 10. 30 4 21 Nāya II 1, P 222 f. 22 117. 13 St 147 f.
70) "humarah Srama nadibhit 26 Prof Bagchi refers to the Sutra of Pānıni (III
The Historical pomting out that the author might have had the followers of Pälsva in view, beginning of Jainism, p. 77, Sir Isutosh Mooherjee Silver Jubilee, Vol III
15 23 26 See Jain Sūtras, Vol xlv, pp av XXI, c alsu Prof P Bagclu op cul, pp 763 37 Cf the corresponding four-fold restraint taught by Buddha which consisted of Ouser
, P 101) ving the four piecepts against injury stcaling unchastity and lying Byha,