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knowledge which is full and complete, unimpeded and unobstructed, infinite and supreme-became his own.
The last thirty years of his life Mahavira passed in teaching his religious system and organizing his order of ascetics. The scene of his labours is mostly along the Ganges, in the modern districts of Bihar and Allahabad. In the towns which lay in these parts he spent almost all the rainy seasons during his spiritual career, though at times he extended his travels as far west and north as Shravasti and the foot of the Himalayas, Men and women of all castes and classes from the lands east of the Middle Country crowded into his order, and from these grew the four representatives of the Jaina community: Sadhus, Sadhvis, Sravakas and Srāvikās-monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. Mahāvira's name and fame greatly perturbed the Brahamanas of Magadha, and several of their most eminent teachers undertook to refute his doctrines. Instead of effecting their purpose, however, they became converts, and constituted his Ganadharas-Chief disciples and teachers of his doctrines. In thirty years Mahavira is said to have converted to Jainism Magadha, Bihār, Prayaga, Kaushambi, Champapuri, and many other powerful states in North India. The Jainas, both Shvetambaras and Digambaras, have recorded the names of the places where he stayed during each rainy season. They also give the names of the different rulers he visited. They tell us how Chetaka, king of Videha, became a patron of his order; how Kunika, king of Anga, gave
