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out of illusion and ignorance. During his life as Nayasara he came in contact with ascetics who were free from the bondages of worldly life. Listening to the religious discourse he gained the enlightenment of correct understanding.which in Jain philosophy is known as Samyag darshan-right vision the germination of redemption which is obtained later on.
The Jain scriptures enlist the births by starting from that birth where right vision, the cause of spiritual evolution is received for the first time. While ignoring minor births. only twenty-seven births are taken into consideration as follows:
This list will provide an idea about the various roles played by the self because of actions good or evil on the platform of the world.
Aryan (cultured) because of the propagation by the saints and ascetics. This is why the Agamas (the scriptures) have enlisted this as Aryan region among the twenty five and a half Aryan regions. Here Bhagavan Mahavira stayed during the ninth monsoon. Vatsa - This state was situated in the present state of Uttar Pradesh. The capital was Kaushambi and Shatanika, the ruler and prince Udayana were devotees of Bhagavan Mahavira. Vachala - This city was near the city of Shvetambi. Near this city the remaining half of the divine scarf of Bhagavan Mahavira, being pricked by thorns had slipped down. The city was divided into two parts known as northern Vachala and southern Vachala. Vanijya Gam - It was a prosperous commercial centre near the city of Vaishali Bhagavan Mahavira stayed here during six monsoons. Videba (Jana pada) Desh – Mithila, the city of the king
Janaka was the capital of this state on the bank of the river Gandaki, before the advent of Bhagavan Mahavira but later on Vaishali was known as its capital. Bhagavan Mahavira was born in this state. Vaishali-It was the capital of the state of Videha. It was a historical city in the vicinity of Rajagriha. It was a promi. nent centre of Jainism and was dominated by Jains!!
Bhagavan Mahavira stayed here during six monsoons. * Shoolapani-Yaksha-Chaitya - This holy place was situated on the outskirts of the town Asthika. Shoolapani had tortured Bhagavan Mahavira who stayed here during a monsoon. *Shravasti - It was the capital of the state of Kunala or north Koshala. This was the city where Goshalaka had released the destructive energy of Tejoleshya. It was a famous centre of the Ajiva (vi) ka sect. Bhagavan Maha vira
stayed here during the tenth monsoon. Surabhipur - This place was situated between Videha and
Magadha. APPENDIX 2 27 BIRTHS OF BHAGAVAN MAHAVIRA Note - The previous incarnations of Bhagavan Mahavira are at the basis of the Jain scriptures and philosophy and without them the spiritual and religious practices related to them would be meaningless and all religious and spiritual beliefs and systems would collapse. Because of the transmigration of the soul, practices for betterment are essential. This very practice or worship annihilates all the movements, names and actions bom through previous actions and the soul ceases to migrate any more and attains perfection for infinite bliss.
All souls are eternal, without beginning or end. Since time immemorial they wander from one birth to the other. The soul of Bhagavan Mahavira was also moving in the cycle of births and deaths as it was enslaved by actions born
1. Nayasaralt
16. Prince Vishvabhuti (Village-head)
(accepting self-control) 2. First Saudharma, a god 17. A god in the seventh in the divine world
divine world of 3. Prince Marichi
Mahashukra (Accepting self-control) 18. Triprishtha Vasudeva 4. A god in the fifth divine 19. Naraka in the seventh world of Brahma
hell 5. Kaushika Brahmin
20. A lion 6. Pushyamitra Brahmin 21. Naraka in the fourth hell 7. A god in the divine 22. A human being world of the first
(anonymous) Saudharma
(accepting self-control) 8. Agnidyota Brahmin
23. Supreme ruler - Priya9. A god in the second
mitra (accepting selfdivine world of Ishana
control) 10. Agnibhuti Brahmin 24. A god in the seventh 11. A god in the third divine divine world of world of Sanatkumara
Mahashukra 12. Bharadwaja Brahmin 25. Prince Nandana 13. A god in the fourth
(Accepting the vow of divine world of
self control) Mahendra
26. A god in the tenth divine 14. Sthavira Brahmin
world of Pranata 15. A god in the fifth divine 27. Shree Vardhamana world of Brahma
Mahavira (The final birth)
• Out of the 27 births he had the birth as god in the world of the divine during birth numbers 2, 4, 7,9,11, 13, 15, 17, 24 and 26. Birth numbers 19 and 21 were in hell as Naraka. Birth number 20 was as an animal, a lion. Birth numbers 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22, 23, 25 and 27 were as a human being. Here too birth numbers 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 were first as a Brahmin and then as a recluse keeping a trisected
staff. • He was a prince during the birth numbers 3, 16, 22 and 25.
Those who were in all these four births had accepted the vow of self-control. In the 23rd birth he became a supreme ruler in Mahavideha and the 18th birth was that of
Vasudeva. • He earned the merits qualifying him to be the Tirthankara
during the 25th birth as Nandana Muni by performing
penance marked by twenty locations. • In the 27th incarnation 1/3 of the life was spent in the world of the divine and a little more than that was spent as
a human being • The narration about Nayasara occurs in Prakrita and Sanskrita texts of Shvetambara and Digambara sects with some variations.
10. The words Aryans and Anaryans are not permanently applied to people
of a particular region as explained in Brihat Kalpa chhed) Sutra Vritti and Prithvichandra charitra) Those states or regions known as Aryan because of religious culture may become Anaryan in the absence of teachings by the saints and ascetics and those states or regions which are Anaryan may become Aryan by the association and tours of saints and ascetics e many regions had become Aryan when King Samprati pro pagated non-violence, compassion and other virtues. Therefore the authors of scriptures have to change demarcation of boundaires of Aryan states and regions in their notes. So they have dropped a curtain on the controversy of Aryans and non-Aryans by clearly defining the states and territories, subordinating, other limitations. They defined an Aryan region as one where knowledge, holy visits and good conduct develop. Where these are absent, the region is Anaryan. However the Vedic and Baudhist
demarcations between Aryan and Anaryan are different II. See the travel-notes of Huan Chuang.
12. Mahavirachariam' by Nemi krut has mentioned Baladhika' as his name
while the rest of the biographers have maintained the same name
जैन लिपिनो ओंकार पंचपरमेष्ठीमय
WR)
१ महाकाली
१० मानवी
१२. गांधारी
१३ वैरोटी
१४. अनन्तमती
।
१५ मानसी
१६ महामानसी
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