Some Historical Jaina Kings and Heros

Author(s): Kamtaprasad Jain
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 23

all conditions of the world of celestials, men and demons, whence they came, whither they went, where they were born, whether as men or animals, celestials, or as denizens of hells, in subjection to their Karmas.
In the Buddhist literature, too, Mahavira is described in one place as, “the head of an order, of a following, the teacher of a school, well-known and of repute as a sophist, revered by the people, a man of experience, who has long been a recluse." In another place he is described as "all-knowing and all-seeing, who possessed an infinite knowledge."
To dispel the darkness of ignorance from the minds of misguided people, Lord Mahavira Vardhamana toured in Magadha, Videha, Kaushala and certain other countries, and revealed the Light of Truth.
Shrenika Bimbisara of Magadha, Chetaka of Vaishali, . Udayana of Sindhu-Sauvira, Shatanika of Kausambi, Jivandhara of Hemangdesa and many other kings and princes became his disciples and lived according to his precepts, Princes like Abhayakumara and Varisena adopted the life of a monk and liberated themselves. from the fetters of Karma. We are told that some five hundred Indo-Greeks also turned to Mahavira and accepted his teachings. Ardraka, a prince of
1. Jainn Sutras, SBE, p. 200. | 1 2. Majjhima Nikaya, I92-93.
3. Law, Historical Gleanings P. 78