Studies in South Indian Jainism

Author(s): M S Ramaswami Ayyangar, B Seshagiri Rao
Publisher: M S Ramaswami Ayyangar

Page 36

The Jain migration.
20 THE JAIN MIGRATION TO THE SOUTH. their way to the south." The Jain traditions of the country not only make mention of this fact but also give a graphic account of the meeting of Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya in the court of the latter at Pataliputra. Having had during the previous night sixteen dreams, Chandragupta communicated them to Bhadrabahu. The last of the dreams was of the approach of a twelve-headed serpent, which Bhadrababu interpreted to mean the approach of twelve years of dire calamity and famine. As foretold by him, a terrible famine broke out in the country. The Mauryan emperor, abdicating his throne in favour of his son, Simhasena, took Diksha and joined Bhadrabahu who, collecting a body of twelve thousand disciples, started on a grand exodus towards the south. In their march southward, the Sruta Kevali had a strange perception that he would die and at once ordered á halt on the mountain of a populous country completely filled with the increase of people, money, gold, grain, cow, buffaloes and goats, called Katavapra." He then gave Upadesa to one Visākhamuni and entrusted the disciples to his care, sending them on under his guidance further south to the Chela, Pandya and other countries. Chandragupta sought special permission to stay with Bhadrabahu, which was granted. Very soon, the Sruta Kevali died and
(6
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1 The Rājāvalik the, a compen. dium of Jain history, legends and chronology, compiled in the 19th century by Deva Chandra of the
Jain establishmentat Meleyur for a lady of the Mysore Royal family, furnishes a good deal of informa tion regarding early Jain history.