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10. Keshiswami - Anekanta Dialogue
hagwan Mahavir's message of peace and solidarity has intrigued people from all over the land. Mahavir is constantly traveling from one kingdom to the other. People as far away as Sindhu-Sauvar, Takshashita, and Gandhar in the northwest invite Bhagwan to come and give sermons. Sometimes Bhagwan goes even uninvited to stop wars or animal sacrifices, and many of us go with him. For eight months a year, during the non-rainy season, all sadhus and sadhvis in the sangh are expected to travel. Those who did not accompany Bhagwan often travel in small groups to spread his message in different cities.
During one such voyage a few monks and I arrived in Shravasti City and decided to stay at 'Koshthak Gardens on the edge of the city. That same evening one of my colleagues discovered that Keshiswami and his group were camped in 'Tanduk Gardens' at the other end of the city.
Keshi is a senior Sraman monk, but from a different tradition - that of the
250-year-old Parshva(5) School. Monks of the Parshva School also believe in the liberation of the soul through sadhana, and travel across the country spreading this belief. Unlike us, however, they wear yellow robes.
Jain tradition has 24 enlightened gurus who are called 'Tirthankars'. Mahavir was the 24th and Parshva, 250 years earlier was the 23rd Tirthankar.
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