Lord Mahavira Vol 02

Author(s): S C Rampuria
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati Institute

Page 95

86
Lord Mahåvira mentions the life of Mahâvîra somewhat rather in detail. The Tisatthimahapurisagunalankara of Pushpadanta (Sak.Sam.880), Uttarapurana of Gunabhadra (8th-9th c.A.D.), Vardhamanapurana of Camundaraya (10th-11th c.A. D.), and Vardhamanacarita of Asanga etc. are some more works which can be mentioned in this connection. The Svetambara tradition is more enriched and developed on the pattern of Buddhist tradition. The Ayaranga, Suyagadanga, Thananga, Samvayanga, Uvasagadasanga, Vakhyakprajnapti, Kalpasutra, Avasyakanirukti, Visesavasyaka-bhasya, Ayarangacurni, Cauppannamahapurisariyam, Trisastisalakapurasacaritam etc. are important works for chronological recording of the life of Mahâvîra. The historical development for its recording is naturally traceable, like exaggerations, fictitious elements, astonishments and poetical peculiarities as found in the latter Buddhist literature. This is the reason why Acarya Samantabhadra had stressed on the point of Vitaragatva and not on the attainment of Devas, Astapratiharyas and other amazements which could be perceived in fraudulents. 19 In pursuit of Knowledge
No substential references to his schooling are available in Pali or Prakrit literature except that a Brahmana teacher was astonished on hearing his scholarly answers to the questions asked as had been in case of the Buddha. He remained in the householdership upto the age of 30 where he could kindle in his mind the flame of emancipation from Karmas and through cultivation of selfrealisation with perfection in non-violence, truth and celibacy. Mahâvîra left the home for the best and renounced the ego, attachment possessive instinct. The Acarangasutra gives an account of his pursuit of knowledge for twelve years when he roamed and camped in the following villages in the rainy seasons, viz. Astigrama (Vardhamana or Burdwan), Nalanda, Campa or Campapur, Prsthacampa, Bhaddila or Badrika (Pali Bhaddiya), Bhaddiya near Vaisali, Alabhiya (Pali Alavi), Rajagraha, Suvarnabhumi Sravasti, Vaisali, Campa, and Jambhiy- agrama. During this period he also visited Panitabhumi and Vajrabhumi, the parts of rough terrians of Radha. During these years of his pursuit a number of incidents occurred in his life: calamities of Gopalakas, Sulapani, Agni, Tapta Dhuli, Lohargala, Kataputana, Sangama