Studies in Jainology Prakrit Literature and Languages

Author(s): B K Khadabadi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Studies in Jainology, Prakrit
Now like the medium of Mahavira's teaching, his mode of teaching too outstands with special significance. Of the numerious aspects of his mode of teaching, the discussion of which all would indeed lead to a formation of an independent monograph on the subject, I would rather glean here only a few salient ones: Here again the Ovavaiya Sutta is quite cloquent on how Mahavira spoke and taught his audience:
"Tae nam Samane Bhagavam Mahavire Kuniyassa Aparimiyabala viriyateya māhappa katijutte särayenavatthaniya mahura gambhira ko canigghasa dumdubhissare ure vitthadae kamthe vatthiyae sire samainnae agaralac amammanae sannivaiyāc punnarattara sarassaic josainihärinäsarena Addamāgahic bhasac bhasai Ariha dhammam parikahci”. 26
This passage provides us with the following points of information While preaching or teaching, Mahavira was full of sincerity and enthusiasm; his voice was sweet, solcmn and easily audible to his listeners even in huge number and occupying extensive space; his pronunciation was clear; and his exposition was quite lucid and appealing. Possibly the oft- quoted sanskrit verse enumerating the fourteen qualities of the revered teacher's voice, it appears, is based on such information recorded in such cononical works:
Gambira madhura manoharataram doṣavyapetam hitam Kamthostadivaco nimittarahitam no vātarodhonugatam Spastam tattadabhista vastuyathaka nisseṣabhāṇātmakam Dūrāsannasama samaṁ nirūpaṁ jainaṁ Vasra patunaḥ27
I may point out here that except "nisseṇabhāsātmakam” which concerns the Master's medium of teaching, all other thirteen qualities rather describe his ideal mode of teaching. Further it appears that Mahavira, as a great educationist valued such instruction to one's pupils administered affectionately and