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The Path of Arhat : A Religious Democracy
a strict discipline was maintained in his order of monks and nuns. Meghakumāra was one of the sons of king Bimbisára ( Śrepika ). He entered the order of Monks taking Sainnyāsa from Mahāvīra, Being the junior most in the order of monks he had to sleep at a place, very uncomfortable and all passersby were occasionally stumbling against him. Being a prince reared up in royal comforts, he felt humiliated and made a grievance. But the master, who was a strict disciplinarian, admonished him and made him conscious of his dutics. First Gapadharas
The first religious conference called 'Samavasaraya' at which the master gave his first sermon was held on the bank of river Ujjuvaliya ( Rjubalika ). This discourse remained unfruitful in the sense that nobody came forth to take Sainnyása. However, the second discourse at Pavá was most successful. As we shall notice hereafter Indrabhūti Gautam had a debate with the master on the existence of 'self'. As he was satisfied he became the first disciple of note. His hundred of pupils also became Mahāvira's disciples. Story of Iudrabhūli's conversion went round with the result that ten other Brahmios learned in Vedas came to the master and had discourses with him on various subjects, now forming core of Jainisin. They all becamic his disciples. These eleven are called Ganadharas as they were appointed as the first heads of different groups of monks. Mahavira survived all of them except the first Gañadhara Indrabhūti Gautam and the fifth one Sudharma. It is significant that all these first principal disciples were Brahmins of great repute and learning which shows that the silent ideological revolution had already started in the intelligentsia of the time. Mutta pam-Moyagānan
Muttanam-moyagāņam means 'Onc who becomes free and makes others free'—such is the description of the souls like the great Mahāvīra. After thirty long years of wanderings for the spread of the gospel of non-violence and peace, the master spent his last 'Cáturmasa’ (four months of stay for rainy
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