Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 502

Sec. I]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
477
Next, Lord Mahāvīra appears as a Chadmastha ascetic (he who has not yet attained omniscience), practising the astama-tapa (a kind of austerity) in the eleventh year of his asceticism to attain (i. e. perform) the ekarātrimahāpratima-vrata (the vow of great pratima of one night) in the Asokavana (Aśoka garden) of the city of Susumārapura.
The scanty evidences of the practice of austerity and meditation of Lord Mahavira, furnished by the BhS, are supplemented by the Acaranga Sutra and the Kalpa Sutra which throw much light upon his severe asceticism.
It is to be observed that the accounts of his austerity as given in the Acārānga Sutra and the Kalpa Sutra do not bring in Gośala Mankhaliputra to form an episode in these works and the names of the places where he obtained residence during the first twelve years of his asceticism do not agree with those referred to in the BhS except the one, namely Asthikagrama. Lord Mahavira as religious teacher and his itinerary
as
The BhS clearly reveals that Sramana Mahāvīra an omniscient religious teacher travelled over different places of Northern India, extending from Eastern India (West Bengal) up to Sindhu-Sauvira, preaching and expounding the doctrine of the Nirgrantha religion to the people of all classes and his own followers and those of the other sects and converting and initiating them to this Śramana Dharma. He was well acquainted with the great sixteen states (Solasa Mahajanapadas), existing and flourishing in his time.
The following places visited by him appear to be the scenes of his religious and spiritual activities among the people of all social grades, viz. Rajagrha, (Gunaśilaka Caitya), Nālandā, Campa (Purnabhadra Caitya), Kajangala (Chatrapalasaka Caitya), Vanijyagrāma (Dūtipalāsaka Caitya), Šrāvasti (Kosthaka Caitya), Hastinapura (Sahasrāmravana), Ālabhikā, Kausambi, Vitibhaya (Sindhu-Sauvira), Kampilyapura, Ullukatira (Ekajambuka Caitya), Visakha, Saravana and Mendhikagrāma.
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