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Jainism Through Ages
Dr. Kamini Gogri Mahavira
► Kings of Magadha, the Nanda dynasty, the Mahâvîra was born to Siddhartha, a district
Maurya dynasty (Candragupta Maurya, chieftain of Vaishali (in the present state of Bihar),
Bindusara, Ashok and Samprati), Kharvel of a prosperous democratic state in the year
Kalinga and Orissa patronized Jainism. So 610BC.ad royal lineage as most of his paternal and
Jainism prospered as Candragupta and his maternal aunts were the queens of different kings
son Bindusara were Jains and became Jain in that area. He became the 24th tîrathañkara of
ascetics in their later life. Jainism was at its Jains. His family practiced the religion of Pârsva
pinnacle during this period. Stories abound that Natha. Mahâvira renounced the wold at the age of
king Nandivardhan (424BC) won the war 30 and attained omniscience at the age of
against Kalinga and took away the idol of its 42 and Nirvada at the age of 72. He preached
most respected Lord Adinath to his capital,
which was later, won and brought by Khârvela. his philosophy for 30 years after attaining omniscience. A number of modern historians
However the feminine of 12.5 years during 365 believe him to be the founder of Jainism but he was
352 in entire Magadh did havoc to Jainism as the 24th tirathankara and a rejuvenator of Jainism
a large number of Jain monks went to south with
Bhadra Bâhu while SthulaBhadra and others (earlier called by different names such as Arhat,
stayed back in Patliputra. SthulaBhadra Niggantha, Jòâtâdharma, Vártya etc.) Jainism was
changed some of the Jain ethical practices of at its pinnacle during his time and adopted as a state religion by almost all kings from Kalinga
monks to face the famine. This period also saw (Orrisa) to Magadh (Bihar) and Ujjaini (MP).
Jainism assuming a pan India presence More than 500,000 people joined his creed when > Jainism became very popular in south as Buddha, and more than 5 Úramaòika sects and Neminátha, 22nd tîrathankara, is said to have 350 other sects were trying hard to establish traveled there and established it. Similarly themselves. His time saw a lot of philosophical Pârsvanatha also is supposed to have traveled discussions, spiritual sermons, rituals with southwards from Vârâòasi. The fact that sacrifices, extravagant consumption and display of Bhadrabâhu and over 7000 monks chose to go wealth and women slavery. Mahavira tried to there also support existence of a number of Jains eliminate all the social ills and emphasized there. Also history of south is not well austerities, penance, non-violence, self-control and documented till later periods even though we multiplicity of viewpoints as the founding principles find that Jainism being the most favoured and to attain lasting peace and happiness. A number of popular religion of that area till now mentioned learned Brâhmaòa scholars joined his creed. He in literature available. was followed by a number of omniscient with Jambu
Signs of fissure and separation of Jains in two Svâmi (about 65 years of Mahâvîra's Nirvåoa) sects belonging to Sthulabahdra and Bhadra being the last one who made Mathurâ his place of
Bâhu or the south started. We also see Emperor penance and salvation.
Asoka patronizing Buddhism more than i. Mahavira - 300BC
Jainism even though his grand father and father
were Jains and practiced asceticism in their old After Jambu Svâmi's Nirvâòa, the era of
age. cerutakevalis started with Bhadrabâhu being the last one who died in 365BC. During this period the Shifting of the Jain center from Patliputra to salient features were as follows:
Ujjaini, Mathurâ and Vallabhi in east, north and
(સપ્ટેમ્બર - ૨૦૧૭
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