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Epithets of Lord Mahavira in Early Jains Coor
has become his real neme He is respectfully called 'Samaye Bhagan Oil) and the terms Bhegavam, Bhagavante, Bhagavaya Accute so many dima that we can casily surmise that during the period he had become very respectful person amongst many such ascetics (914, 15, 9 2 5, 6, IS, 9 3 12, 16, 9 4 1, 3, 5, 9 37, 94 9, 12, 91 23 9 2. 16
It is also mentioned that though he has a non-omnlclent person (Chaumatthe u 9 4 15 ) he was ahasi-without any deflement and was also olgazagehi-without any longing (9 4 15 )
From all these cpithets It is clear that though he is given u epitha Bhagavam yet he is not called here in this portion Tirthamkara And ** regards Bhagaw am we shouid note here that even in the second part later than this portion of the candon evea the ordinary samanas and the art called Bhagavanta (11 71, 162) Not only this but there wus & rule that an ascetic shouid address even an ordinary woman as 'Bhagaw' (II 134) This indicates that the term 'Bhagavam' was not used for a loader or the head of the sect, and though a term for showing respect it did not had the meaning of an exalted person
As a preacher and head of a sect.
Now we turn to the preaching portion contained to the first step toe chapter of the Actrānga part I Here in many places the term Yurd" and Mahavira' are used but it should be noted that they do not refer to Lord Mabāvīra but to other persons who have showa the valour to their ascetic Jife (1 172, 1 185, 188, 1.140) We should also note that though whalke, we havo seco, describing Mahavira's ascetic life be is called Pond' wel as 'Mahavira', we must conclude that there is tendency towards the fact the Mahavira should become his naine This also is clearly established by the fact that Pali Pitakas mentions Mahgvira As Nigtatha Nata-petta and not as Mahavira So we can conclude that ford Mahavira bocome a moth by that name after the time of Pali Pitake
In this part also Lord Mahavira is refered to as 'Ny putta (t. 2. 12). 'Mahanena maimaya (200,206), and Bhagaraya I, 10, 15, 16, 23, 43, 52, 54, 90, 185, 214, 216, 220) Once he is refered to as R
o tarpit AMAT, THT (200) Here we see that he is called Alupraja and also baving nothing and damsana At other place he is called Kusala' (166) Bex bowbere be is refered to as a Tirthankara In Dighanikaya etc, though be given the epithet Tirthankara it is algoticant that in Acartaga's first part no where he is refered to as auch This may slgnify that this prouca of the harde is anterior to Dighanikaya
