Lord Mahavira Vol 02

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

Page 97

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Lord Mahavira upliftment and betterment of the society rest of the life. After the attainment of Kevalajnana, Tirthankara Mahâvîra camped thirty years in the rainy seasons as follows: Rajagrha, Vaisali, Vanijyagrama, Rajagrha, Vanijyagrama, Rajagrha, Vaisali, Vaisali, Rajagrha, Vanijyagrama, Rajagrha, Campa, Mithila, Mithila, Vanijyagrama, Rajagrha, Vanijyagrama, Vaisali, Vaisali, Rajagrha, Nalanda, Mithila, Mithila, Rajagrha, and Apapuri.20 This list of places gives an impression that Mahâvîra visited and preached the masses mostly in Bihar and some areas of Bengal and U.P. The great kings like Prasenajit of Sravasti, Srenik Bimbisara of Magadha, Dadhivahana of Campa, Satanika of Kausambi, Jitasatru of Kalinga etc. were the followers of Mahâvîra. It appears, that Jainism had spread all over India. We do not know whether Mahâvîra ever visited South India. But Jaina Literature is of the view that Jainism was prevelent there even prior to Mahâvîra. The Pali sources inform that Jainism was the state religion of Shrilanka well before Sanghabhadra and Sanghamitra reached there.
After passing twenty-ninth Varsavasa at Rajagrha, Mahâvîra reached to Apapuri (may be Majjhima), the capital of Mallas where he spent his last Caturmasa. At the morning of the fourth month Kartika Krishna Amavasya, he left the mundané world and entered into salvation at the age of 72 years. At that time the king of Kashi, Licchavis of Kausala, nine Mallas and eighteen Ganarajas were present who celebrated the Nirvana Mahotsava by liting the lamps. The Samannaphalasutta of the Dighanikaya refers to this event. The Place of Mahâvîra's Death
The place of Mahâvîra's death has also been a controvertial point. The traditional Pava is the place of Mahâvîra's death which is situated in the Southern part of the Ganga river, close to Rajagraha. The another Pava is the modern papura village twelve miles away from Kusinara or Kasiyau situated on the bank of little Gandaka river, to the east of the District of Gorakhapur at the Nothern part of the Ganga. It is most probable that Pava was included in the territory of the Mallas since a Santhagara was built by them in Pava. It is also said that at this place the Buddha ate his last meal at the house of Cunda, and as a result he had an attack of dysentery. He then left the place and proceeded to Kusinara where he ultimately attained Parinirvana.