Mahavira His Life And Teachings

Author(s): Saraswati Raghavachari
Publisher: Jain Sastu Sahitya

Page 20

11
After all the festivities, when the day arrived for giving a suitable name to the new-born, King Siddharth a addressing his numerous guests said, “Even from the very day that my queen conceived this boy there has been a general increase of prosperity not only in my family but throughout my kingdom. So let the boy be named Vardhamana.”
It is not out of place here to refer to the various other names by which he is indicated.
Vira, Ati Vira, Sanmati are also the names by which he is referred to in some of the Jain Shastras.
He is also known as Gnataputra because he was the leader of the Gnatrikas, a clan of kshatriyas.
The Buddhists called him Nataputta for the reason that he was the head of the Niganthas or Jaina monks.
He was endowed with unlimited courage and capacity for the practice of revere austerities. So he was named Sramana.
Last but not the least important is the name Mahavira. by which he is universally known. He stood unmoved like a rock in the midst of dangers and terrors; and he was gifted with