Prabuddha Jivan 2017 10 Matrubhasha Gandhiji ane Samprat Samay Visheshank

Author(s): Sejal Shah
Publisher: Mumbai Jain Yuvak Sangh

Page 54

Jainism Through Ages
LESSON - ONE (CONT.)
Dr. Kamini Gogri
In this article we will study the spread of him and sent Subandhu to ask for forgiveness but the Jainism in Bihar
latter threw at his dung-hill an incense coal so that Mahavira was closely connected with the most chanakya was burnt alive. significant princes of his home land. He visited the Indisputably authentic material is available about the most important cities of their kingdoms in Bihar on close connection of Bindusara's son, Ashokavardhana his wanderings, Champ, Anga's capital, Mithila in (273-232 B.C.) with Jainas. Ashoka was a great and a Videha, Rajgriha, the capital of Mithila, etc. and he
far-sighted ruler, who made it a point to promote the was most respectfully received everywhere. King religious and moral life in his great empire. He Bimbisara (Jainas called him by the name of Shrenik) therefore supported the religious brother-hoods of his of Magadha, the same king, who also patronised lands in a liberal manner. Personally, he Buddha, was considered by the Jaina as a special
embraced Buddhism in his later years.Jainas however, admirer of their master. They therefore presumed that
opined that he belonged earlier to their religion. In he would be born as a Tirthankara in his later
any case, he did not stop in showing equal concern to experience. Even Ajatshatru, Bimbisara's cruel son who
the welfare of various sects and he appointed special exposed his father to death by starvation, was well
officers to look after individual religious orders. disposed towards Jainas. His successor, Udayi, was in fact, a patron of their doctrine.
Ashoka has spoken of Jainas in his seventh column
edict (shila-lekha), which deals with the duties of the The religion flourished even under the dynasty of
law authorities, saying that he has made arrangements nine 'Nandas', who had (at the time when Alexander
that his supervisors of law will, apart from other things, the great marched into India) usurped the throne of
deal with the matters of Nigranthas (Jainas) and will the Saisunaga kings, and there was no change in the
deal with all the different religious brother-hoods. He situation, even when the last unpopular Nanda king
commanded his subjects to show obedience to parents, was relieved of his throne by the great Maurya
decent behaviour to saints and ascetics, poor and the king, Chandragupta, the Sandrakottos of the Greeks. Jainas reckon this first historical emperor of India as
miserable, asked them to practice charity, generosity,
truthfulness, purity, humility and saintliness and also his great Chancellor, Chanakya among Jains. Chanakya is said to be a son of a Jaina layman Chani
reminds them of prohibition of injury to the living and a diligent champion of their faith. He is said to
beings. He concluded his commands with the intention have weaned Chandragupta from his kindness towards
that these may remain valid, as long as his sons and heretics. Thus, due to Chanakya's influence,
grandsons rule, as long as sun and moon shine and Chandragupta became a diligent Jaina and bestowed
that human beings act according to them. If a person his favours only on them. Finally, he renounced his
acts according to them, he obtains salvation in this throne in accordance with the Digambara tradition, and in the other world. became an ascetic and went to Mysore along with
Asoka's successors to the throne of Magadha were Saint Bhadrabahu and is said to have lived and died
since his son Kunala was blind, his grand sons there at Sravana Belgola in a cave.
Dasaratha and Samprati. The Jaina tradition mentions It is said that Chanakya's name was darkened by only of Samprati, who is aid to have resided his envious colleague, Subandhu with Chandragupta's in Ujjain and describes him as a follower of their faith. successor, Bindusara (298-273 B.C.) and he was He is said to have built several Jaina temples and relieved. He therefore distributed his wealth among developed a lively missionary activity and erected Jaina the poor, sat on a dung-hill outside the city and died monasteries even in non-aryan regions. Not much is there by starvation. Bindusara tried his best to pacify known about Jaina faith under the last Maurya rulers
પદ્ધ જીવન : માતૃભાષા, ગાંધીજી અળસાંપ્રત સમય વિશેષાંક
ઓક્ટોબર - ૨૦૧૭)