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THE WORLD OF JAINISM
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at a place called Jrimbhakagrama. One afternoon Mahavira sat under the shade of Sala tree in the meadow of a field that belonged to a farmer by name Samga He had fasted for two and a half days and had not touched a drop of water As he sat in deep meditation, he attained Kevala Jnana ie the supreme knowledge Soon after this he took the title Jina or the one who has conquered the Karma completely Jainas call him Athata, one who is fit for veneration, or Arihanta, one who is the destroyer of the enemies.
Mahavira began his career as a teacher by delivering his first sermon on the five vows His message was, birth and caste were of no significance but Karma was everything and its destruction was essential for eternal bliss Only through severe asceticism one could buin up Karma and become a Tuthankara Unlike Mahavira, Buddha taught that desire is the cause of rebirth and he emphasised that self effort and mental discipline were more important than austerity.
Mahavira's first disciple was Gautama Indrabhuti Sudharman is another of his great disciples He taught his new way to the Kshatriya princes and noble men His relations with other princely families must have given him a good support Chetaka, king of Videha, Kunika, King og Anga, Satanika, king of Kausambi, Abhaya, son of Bimbisara, Srenika, king of Magadha were his patrons
Main centres of Mahavira's activity were Rajagriha, Champa, Vaisalı, Pava, Mithila and Srayastı From the beginning of his career his lay supporters were rich merchants and bankers
Mahavira was a greater organiser than Buddha though he did not possess the same personal charm as Buddha It is no wonder that unlike Buddhism, Jainism continues to be an important religious sect in India because of the sound organisational structure Mahavira left behind After attaining Keval Jnana he became the last Tirthankara and as a Tirthankara he assisted his followers to pass-accross the troubled ocean of life He pointed out one of the four ways or Tirthas a monk, a nun, a committed layman or a committed lay woman
Nirvana
Mahavira died in 527 BC* at Pava or Pavapuri, a small village in Patna district He was 72 years of age and had lived
* There is a controversy regarding this date According to Jaina monk Hemachandra, 468 B C appears to be a more probable date According to the same testimony 478 BC is considered as more correct by scholars
