Mahavira His Life and Teachings

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

Page 49

42 MAHĀVĪRA: HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS The Venerable Mandikaputra of the Vasistha gotra and the Venerable Mauryaputra of the Kāśyapa gotra instructed 250 recluses each. The Venerable Akampita of the Gautama gotra and the Venerable Acalabhrātr of the Hăritāyana gotra instructed together 300 recluses each. Similarly the Venerable Metārya and Prabhāsa, both of the Kaundiņya gotra, instructed together 300 recluses each. All the eleven gañadharas died at Rājagrha after fasting a month without even drinking water. Indrabhūti and Arya Sudharman died after the demise of Mahāvira. The Nirgrantha recluses trace their spiritual descent from Arya Sudharman, because the remaining gañadharas left no descendants ?
What was the form of his first declaration about himself which aroused confidence in so many hundreds and thousands of his followers who had gathered round his personality and impelled them to follow his example in their own life? And what was the special attraction of religious life which was held out to the householders, both men and women, who came to form a large body of lay disciples ?
The answer to the first question comes from several Buddhist texts, and the answer to the
1 Jaina-Sūtras, Part I, pp. 286-287.