________________
Vardhamâna and the Foundations of Jainism
225
humans celebrated, music filled the air, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the land. The prenaming rites were performed on Mount Meru, where the baby had been taken immediately after birth by the power of Sakra. Following the ritual bath and various auspicious rites, the child was named Vardhamâna, he who brings prosperity, apparently because his parents' wealth had increased markedly during the pregnancy. The name Vardhamâna was of course only the first of many to be given him: Vira (Hero); Mahâvîra (Great hero);14 Sanmati (Of excellent wisdom); Kâsyapa, his lineage name; Jnatrputra, 15 his clan name; and sramana bhagavan (venerable) Mahâvîra (the Venerable Ascetic Mahâvîra). Mahâvîra's Early Life
It should be noted that both Siddhartha and Trisala are described in the Acaranga-sutra as followers of Pârsva, 16 the penultimate Jina of the time cycle that Mahâvîra was to complete. The historicity of this Pârsva, who is said to have flourished in Banaras circa 850 B.C. , seems definite. Buddhist texts refer to the existence of large numbers of Niganthas (Unattached ones) who followed the catuyama samvara"7 the fourfold restraint that Jacobi and others have convincingly identified with the teachings of Pârsva. 18 Such references, moreover, suggest a Jaina community older than that of the Buddhists, hence predating Mahâvîra as well. This conclusion is based upon the fact that sectarian writings of the period were not ordinarily willing to grant "established” status to rival groups only then developing (witness the failure of Jaina texts to provide any mention whatsoever of the Buddha or his followers). The Niganthas of the Pali literature, therefore, must have been members of a very ancient religious order. 19
Little information is available pertaining to Mahâvîra's childhood. There is one story of how he subdued a terrifying snake by means of his great courage and peaceful aura; beyond this, we know virtually nothing. It can be assumed that as a member of a royal household the child must have spent his time in mastering the arts suitable to the vocation of a prince: writing, mathematics, archery, and the like. --
With regard to Mahâvîra's family life after coming of age,
