Mahavira His Life and Teachings

Author(s): Bimla Charn Law
Publisher: Luzac and Co UK

Page 45

38 MAHĀVĪRA : HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS and in Sravasti, Nandinipriya and his wife Aśvini, Salatipriya and his wife Phālguni.
These lay disciples of the Venerable Ascetic and lay supporters of the recluses of his Order, both male and female, are all mentioned as persons of opulence and influence, and as those noted for their piety and devotion The typical description of each of them, as given in the Uvāsaga-dasão, may enable the reader to form an idea of his worldly prosperity Ananda of Vānijagrāma, for instance, is described as a householder who ' possessed a treasure of four kror measures of gold deposited in a safe place, a capital of four kror measures of gold put out on interest, a wellstocked estate of the value of four kror measures of gold, and four herds, each herd consisting of ten thousand heads of cattle' He was a person whom many kings and princes and merchants made it a point to refer to, and to consult, on many affairs and matters needing advice, . in short, on all sorts of business. He was also the main pillar, as it were, of his own family, their authority, support, mainstay, and guide. In short, he was a cause of prosperity to whatever business he was concerned with'. Each of them had a Posaha-house (hall for practice of upavasatha or religious observances). Ananda, for instance, had