Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Boolchand
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society

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Gosala Mankhaliputra :
Mahavira's second ¬¬¬ was spent in Nalanda, a suburb of Rajgṛha. While here he was met by Gosala Mankhaliputta (or Maskariputra), the Ajivaka teacher. Gosala was then wandering about in the country showing pictures to the people, and was attracted by Mahavira owing to his extraordinary self-restraint and impressive habits of meditation and by the fact that a rich householder of Rajgṛha, by name Vijaya, had shown respect and hospitality towards Mahavira. Possibly another factor, Mahavira's capacity to prophesy things correctly, also helped to increase Gosala's keenness, as it certainly helped towards the diffusion of Mahavira's influence and following in the later part of his career. The Jain books mention that Gosala approached Mahavira with a request that he may be adopted as his disciple, but that Mahavira declined his request, presumably because he at once sensed the great difference between their temperaments. Golasa's request was repeated on two later occasions and on each sucessive occasion with greater earnestness, and was ultimately granted by Mahavira. It appears that from this time onwards, Mahavira and Gosala lived and travelled togather for a period of six years. The third and the fourth gafa were spent at Champa, at different quarters of the same town. After the fourth af for a short period, they seem to have trekked into the Ladha country, which they visited again in the ninth year. The fifth and the sixth were spent at Bhaddila, the capital town of the Mallas; the seventh at a place in the kingdom of Magadha; and the eighth at Rajagṛha. In the ninth year Mahavira travelled again into the Ladha-desa and stayed there for over six months; in the absence of any settled retreat to spend the rainy season he had to wander about during the period. Presumably Gosala was with him this time also, although the fact that no incidents are mentioned of his use of his undeniably harsh tongue during the sojourn in Ladha-desa is somewhat remarkable. On return from Ladha country, while they were