Temple of Satrunjaya

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 26

Mahavira's paternal uncle was Suparsva, his elder brother Nandivardhana, his sister (mother of Jamali) Sudarsana. His wife was Y by whom he had a daughter named Anojja or Priyadarsana who became the wife of Jamali. His father and mother died when he was 28 years of age, and he continued for two years afterwards with Nandivardhana; he then departed to practise austerities, which he continued twelve and a-half years as a sage only in outward disguise; as a Digambara "he went robeless, and had no vessel but his hand”. Finally he became an Arhat, or Jina, being worthy of universal adoration, omniscient, and all-seeing, and at the age of seventy-two years he became exempt from all pain for ever. This is said to have occurred at Pavapuri or Papapuri near Rajagrha at the court of Hastipala, three and a-half months before the close of the fourth age or Dukhama Sukhama in the great period named Avasarpini. "On the night on which the adorable ascetic hero was delivered from pain, Gautama Indrabhuti, the chief of his perfectly initiated disciples, had the bonds of affection by which he was tied to his preceptor cut asunder, and attained infinite, certain, and supreme intelligence, and perception." This event the Gujarat Jainas date 470 before the Samvat of Vikrama, i.e., B.C. 52624 others apparently 512 years before Vikrama, or B.C. 569,25 the Jainas of Bengal 580, and those of Mysore 607 before Vikrama, 26 but probably by mistake for the Saka era, which would bring these latter dates to B.C. 502 and 539 respectively. 27
"When the sages meet to keep the paryusana, this Kalpa Sutra is to be read for the attainment of merit during five days. This Institute is like Indra among the gods, the Moon among the heavenly bodies, Rama among the just rulers, Kamadeva among well-proportioned men, Rambha among beautiful women, Bhambha among musicians, Airavata among elephants, Ravana among daring adventurers, Abhaya among wise men, Satrunjaya among holy places, humility among virtuous qualities, gold among metals, the nine-lettered among charms, the strawberrymango tree among trees, Sita among faithful wives, Gita among inspired writings, musk among perfumes, gold-sand among articles of commerce, the peacock among dancers, the five marked colt among horses, the water of immortality among liquids, melted butter among gravies, the dutiful son Salabhadra among enjoyments, Santinatha among the givers of gifts, Neminatha among chaste religious students, Nandana among forests, the Candana among woods, friendship among virtues, and the Jain religion among religions. In fine the Kalpa Sutra is the gem in the crown of all religious institutes. There is no god superior to the Arhat, no future bliss superior to mukti (moksa,) no holy place superior to Sri Satrunjaya, and no inspired book superior to the Sri Kalpa
Sutra.-Stevenson's Kalpa Sutra, pp. 9, 10. 24 Conf. Stevenson, Kalpa Sutra, pp. 86, 90, 91, 92, 96. 26 Princeps' Useful Tables (1858), p. 166. 26 Kalpa Sutra, pref. p. jii. 27 Weber would bring down this date to 348 or 349 B.C. Uber Satr. Mahat. p. 12.