Book Title: Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra
Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur
View full book text
________________
434
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
[Ch. VII great disappointment, but approached his teacher again on the request of the Ajivika-Sthaviras to have the answer to his question about Halla. It is stated that on receipt of the signal from them in the meantime Gośāla left the raw-mango-fruit in a solitary place and then he gave an explanation of his chewing the raw mango to Ayampula thus that it was the rind of mango, but not the mango. Next, he described that Halla had the shape like that of Vamsimula (lower part of a flute) and addressed himself thus "O dispassionate sage, play the flute"-"Viņamvaehi re viraga." Being pleased and satisfied with this explanation to his question given by his teacher, Ayampula retired to his home after paying due respect to his preceptor.
Own
Having known and realized the approach of his death by intuition, Gośāla instructed his disciples, the AjivikaSthaviras on the performance of his funeral ceremony after his death thus: They were to cause him to bathe (i.e. his corpse) with fragrant water, to besmear his limbs with Gosirsa sandalpaste, to dress him (his dead body) with costly garments and ornaments and to take out a procession of his corpse in a palanquin carried by one hundred men by proclaiming him as the last of the twenty-four Tirthankaras."
It is stated that at the end of seven nights from the day of this incident Gośāla again summoned his followers and told them that he was not Jina, etc., but Lord Mahāvīra was Jina. And he expressed his repentence and sorrow for his misdeeds, such as, the killing of Sarvanubhuti and Sunakṣatra, the two disciples of Lord Mahāvīra by applying his fiery energy Then he (tejolesya) on them at the Kosthaka Caitya, etc. instructed them to perform his funeral ceremony with all sorts of dishonour, such as, by tying his left leg with a rope of bark, spitting thrice upon his mouth, dragging his dead body through
1 Bhs, 15, 1, 554.
Jain Education International
2 Ib,
For Private & Personal Use Only
15, 1, 554.
www.jainelibrary.org
