Mahavira his Times and his Philosophy of Life

Author(s): Harilal Jain, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

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in the afternoon of the 10th day of bright half of Vaišākha, when the moon was between Uttar-āşādha and Hasta. These details are confirmed by the Uttara-purāna (74,3,49) and Harivarsa-purāna (2, 56-59). Thus Mahāvira attained omniscience on the bank of Rjukūlā in the vicinity of Jşmbhika-grāma. According to the Ācārānga and Kalpa-sūtra the name of the village is Jambhiya and that of the river Rju-vālukā. Though this village and the river are of conclusively indentified, there seems to be no doubt that this river is the same which, in Bihar, is known as Kuyela or Kuyela-kūlā, and on the bank of it there is a big Railway station of that very name. Close by there is a town Jambui by name. So this very place should be accepted to be the locality where Mahāvīra attained omniscience; and suitable memorial should be erected there.
11. Place of Mahāvīra's First Sermon After attaining kevala-jñāna, Mahāvīra reached Rājagrha; and his samavasarana was organized on the mount Vipul-ācala nearby. There his divya-dhvani, or Voice Divine, flowed out; and that was on the first day of the black half of the month of Srăvaņa. According to the Mahā-puranu of Puşpadanta Mahāvīra gave his first sermon when 66 days had passed after his attainment of kevala-jñāna. This event is described in details in the Harivarsa-purāņa (2, 61, etc.): षट्षष्टि-दिवसान् भूयो मौनेन विहरन् विभुः, आजगाम जगत्ख्यातं जिनो राजगृहं पुरम्। आरुरोह गिरिं तत्र विपुलं विपुल-श्रियम्, प्रबोधार्थं स लोकानां भानुमानुदयं यथा। श्रावणस्यासिते पक्षे नक्षत्रेऽभिजिति प्रभुः, प्रतिपद्यहि पूर्वाह्र शासनार्थमुदाहरत्। Thus the mount Vipul-ācala, near Rājagțha (in Bihar) is the important and sacred place where the divine sermon of lord Mahāvira was first delivered. Even from early times there are some Jaina temples on Vipulācala; and some 25-30 years back a Vira-śāsana Memorial
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