World Of Jainism

Author(s): Vishwanath Pandey
Publisher: Vishwanath Pandey

Page 95

The Great Renunciation
Dr. H. D. Sankalia This is the 2500th year of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of the Jainas. Unlike Buddhism, Jainism is said to have a long and hoary past, stretching back to thousands of years. The first Tirthankara, Risabha or Adinatha, as I pointed out long ago, in JAINA ANTIQUARY, is credited in Jaina literature with what we call the birth of 'civilization'. It was Risabha who made the earth flat and made it suitable for agriculture.
Neminatha, Risabha's distant successor, and the predecessor of Mahavira abandoned the world in a much more dramatic way than did Buddha or any other teacher we know of.
The story of the Great Renunciation of Neminatha, the 22nd Jaina Tirthankara which is carved in a ceiling panel in the Tejahpala* temple on Mount Abu is perhaps more poignant in the swiftness and contrasts of its scenes than the gradual world-weariness of Buddha.
The story had become a classic as early as the 4th century B.C. for it is related in the Uttaradhyayanasutra, a canonical work of the Jainas. Since then it was so popular and sacred that as late as the 12th century A.D., Hemachandra, the great poet-philosopher of Gujarat, included it in his work, on the lives of 63 great men.
Neminatha, or Aristanemi as he was called before he became a Jina, was a prince who, some 5000 years ago, is supposed to have lived in the town of Sauryapura (perhaps modern Mathura). Kesava (Krishna of Hindu mythology) was his friend and relative, and he by his influence arranged the engagement of Aristanemi with Rajimati, a daughter of king Ugrasena of Mathura (and later of Dwarka). For the marriage-rite the bridegroom, according to the Hindu custom, was invited to go to the bride's house. Decked in rich clothes and ornaments. riding on the best of elephants under a raised umbrella, fanned by attendants. Surrounded by his clansmen, and preceded by musicians and an army drawn up in rank and file, he started from his palace.
On his way he saw animals, kept in enclosures. Overcome by fear and looking miserable, beholding them thus Aristanemi spoke to his charioteer, "Why are all these animals, which desire to be happy, kept in an enclosure?”
The charioteer answered, “Lucky are these animals because at thy wedding they will furnish food for many people".
Note: For footnotes see page No. 100.