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108
The Unknown Pilgrims
In those days, in that (same) period, Šramana Bhagavān Mahävira had nine ganas and eleven ganadharas.
The śramaņas, nirgranthas, of the present time are all (spiritual] sons of the ascetic Arya Sudharman. As to the other ganadharas, (they have left) no (spiritual) posterity; [their line is) extinct.6
...The Sthavira Ārya Sambhūtavijaya of the lineage of the Mātharas had seven spiritual daughters, sisters of Sthūlabhadra, known (by the names): Yaksā, Yakşadattā, Bhūtā, Bhūtadattā, Senā, Venā, Renā.7
The twenty-third tirthankara, Pārśvanātha, is thought to have lived in the VIIIth century B.C.; this is quite possible and his existence is generally recognised as a fact of history. There is no good reason to suppose that he did not have women disciples, but we have no definite
ajjiyāsāhassio ukkosiyā ajjiyāsampayā hottha. KS 134.
tenaṁ kälenaṁ tenaṁ samaeņa samanassa bhagavao Mahāvirassa nava gana, ekkärasa ganaharā hottha. KS 201.
je ime ajjattāe samaņā niggasthā viharaṁti, ete na savve ajjaSuhammassa anagārassa āvaccijjā, avaseså ganahară niravaccă vocchinnä. KS 204; ascetic: anagāra (without a house); cf. P 420 ff.
therassa naň ajjaSambhūivijayassa madharasaguttassa imão satta amtevāsiņio ahāvaccão abhiņņāyão hotthā, tam jahā - Jakkha ya Jakkhadiņņă, Bhūyä taha ceva Bhūyadiņņā ya Seņā Venā Reņā, bhagiņio Thülabhaddassa. KS 208; sthavira denotes an elder, used here as an appellation of respect.
8 Cf. Basham, 1959, p. 290; Deo, 1956, pp. 60-64; Jacobi SBE XLV, pp. xxi-xxii; Renou, 1953a, p.114. The year 817 B.C. has been put forward by some as the year of his birth, though this is confirmed by no historical documents; cf. e.g. Atlas chronological chart.
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