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( 95 ) Sakadalaputra and his wife Agnimitra; in Rajgțha, Mahaśataka ; and in Sravasti, Nandinipriya and his wife Asvini, and Salatipriya and his wife Phalaguni. These lay disciples are all mentioned as persons of opulence and influence, and as those noted for their piety and devotion. Ananda of Vânijyagrāma is described as householder who "possessed a treasure of four kror measures of gold deposited in a safe place, a capital of four kror measures of gold put out on interest, a well stocked estate of the value of four kror measures of gold, and four herds, each herd consisting of ten thousand heads of cattle." He "was a person whom many kings and princes and merchants made it a point to refer to, and to consult, on many affairs and matters needing advice, .........in short, on all sorts of business. He was also the main pillar, as it were, of his own family, their authority, support, mainstay and guide. In short, he was a cause of prosperity to whatever business he was concerned with.” Even the Buddhist texts bear testimony to numerous rich householders being among the lay disciples of Mahavira.
Nirvana
Mahavira attained nirvana at Pāvā in 527 B. C. at the age of 72. The Licchavis and Mallas were two peoples to whom the rise of Mahavira was an object of national pride, and accordingly, it is said in the Kalpasutra that when Mahavira died. the eighteen confederate kings of Kasi and Kosala, the nine Mallakis and the nine Licchavis, instituted an illumination saying “Since the light of intelligence is gone, let us make an illumination of material matter !!
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
