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manhood to divine humanity, from divine humanity to the position of a Jina or a Tirthankara. Immeasurable ages of innumerable lives lay behind him ere he was born in the royal palace at Kundapura or Kundagrāma-a Kshatriya suburb of Vaishali, the capital of Videha or Tirhut-born for his last birth upon this planet, born to reach the perfect illumination, born to become a mighty teacher and instructor of myriads and myriads of the human race.
The Jainas, both Shvetambaras and Digambaras, state that he was the son of King Siddhartha of the celebrated race of Ikshvāku and of the Kashyapa Gotra, and that his mother Trishala was sister to King Chetaka of Vaishali, and was also related to King Bimbisāra of Magadha then the most powerful state in India. The name given by his parents was Vardhamana, as causing increase of riches, peace and prosperity, but Indra or Shakra-the chief of the gods-gave him also the appellation of Mahavira as significant of his power and supremacy over gods and men.
For nearly thirty years Mahavira seems to have lived in the bosom of his family. According to the Shvetambara tradition he was prevailed upon by his parents to marry Yashoda, daughter of the prince Samaravira. By her he had a daughter, Anojjā or Priyadarshana, who was married to a noble of the name of Jamali-one of the Saint's pupils and founder of a new sect-and who in her turn had a daughter called Sheshavati or Yashovati. Mahavira's parents and with
