Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Bool Chand
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society

Page 94

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has been written. Udayana, as we have mentioned above, is claimed by Jain tradition as having had respect and sympathy for the Jain church ; but Pradyota also had undeniable sympathy for the Jain faith. There is a mention that along with Mrgāvati of Kausambi, eight of his own queens, Angāravati and others, with his permission, joined the order.
Campa, capital of Anga. The ruler of Campā, which was always recognised to be a great centre of Jainism, was Dadhivāhana, who married Padmāvati, the second daughter of Cetaka. Dadhivahana's daughter, Candanā or Candanabălā, was the first woman who embraced Jainism shortly after Mahavira had attained the kevala. Jain literature described in great detail the story of Candanā. During the invasion of Campā by King Satanika of Kausambi, Candanā was caught hold of by one of the enemy's army and was sold in Kausambi to a banker named Dhanāvaha. After a short time the banker's wife Mula, felt jealous of her and having cut her hair put her into custody. In this condition she once served a part of her food to Mahavira, and finally joined his ranks as a nun. She headed the order of nuns in Mahavira's sangha. Campā seems to have been situated at a distance of a few miles in the neighbourhood of modern Bhagalpur. Its importance as a centre of Jain influence is evident from the fact that Mahavira spent three of his rainy seasons in Campā. After Mahavira's death Campa was visited by Sudharman, the head of the Jain Sangha, at the time of Kunika or Ajatasatru. Ajatasatru seems to have transferred his capital from Rajgțha to Campā on the death of his father ; and Jain tradition mentions that the King "came bare-footed to see the Ganadhara outside the city where he had taken his abode.” Sudharman's successor, Jambu, and Jambu's successor, Prabhava, also visited Campā, and Prabhava's successor, Sayyambhava, lived at the city where he composed the 'Da savaikälikasutra, containing in ten lectures all the essence of the sacred doctrines of Jainism.