Shraman Mahavira

Author(s): Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Mitra Parishad Calcutta

Page 11

Preface
To live is natural To evolve one's career is an art, to record it in a biography is a greater art and to chronicle an illustrious being's biography is the greatest art My pen ventures to perform the greatest art It is like an odyssey fraught with untoward happenings, along dense jungles and high pinnacles What an ordeal I have chosen for myself! But have not frail frames shouldered mighty tasks at times? I will succeed in my task. This was my resolve when I launched upon the enterprise and now when I see its conclusion my expectations appear to have been fulfilled The three hurdles in writing a biography of Lord Mahavira were , (1) Researching into authentic biographical sources (2) Reconciling the twin traditions of Swetambara 'and
Digambara (3) An unbiased evaluation -
Digambara tradition has not preserved the biographical material pertaining to Lord Mahavira Swetambara tradition has cared to preserve it better but it is far from adequate The three most authentic sources of biographical information on Lord Mahavira are - (1) 'Ayaro' chapter 9 (2) 'Ayarchula' chapter 15 (3) 'Kalpasutra'
'Bhagawatisutra' also affords ample biographical information 'Uvasagadasao', 'Nayadhammakaha' and 'Suyagado' etc are other scriptures that abound in information regarding the Lord's life and philosophy
In later literature, 'Acharanga Churni', 'Avashyak Churni', "Uttarpuraha, Trishasthishalakpurushacharitra', 'Chaupanna' 'Mahapurusha chariya' are some of the works that depict his life
Buddhistic literature also reveals Lord Mahavira's life' Though here the approach is more critical yet a perspective inclusive of the laudation in Jain literature and criticism in