Jainism
Jainism
» According to Jain tradition there were 24 Thirthankaras (literally Ford maker, across the stream of existence), the first being Rishabhadeva / Adinatha and last being Mahavira.
» The Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavat Purana describe Rishabha as an incarnation of Narayana.
» The name of two Jain Tirthankaras – Rishabha and Arishtanemi-are found in the Rig Veda.
» Historicity of early 22 Thirthankaras is ambiguous.
» We have historical proof of only the last two- Parshwanath (23rd) and Mahavira (24th).
» Parshwanath was a prince of Benaras who abandoned the throne and led the life of a hermit and died at Sammet – Shikar / Parshwanath (Parasanath) Hill Gindin, Jharkhand His four main teachings (Chaturthi) were -
1. Ahimsa (non-injury)
2. Satya (non-lying)
3. Asteya (non stealing)
4. Aparigraha (non-possession).
Mahavira adopted all these four teachings and added one more, that is Brahmacharya (Chastity) to it.
Mahavira's Life
» Mahavira was born in 540 BC in a village Kundgrama near Vaishali in Bihar.
» His father Siddhartha was the head of the Jnathrika Kshtriya clan under vajji Vaishali and his mother Trisha was the sister of Chetaka, the king of Vaishali. Mahavira was also related to Bimbisara, the ruler of Magadha, who had married Chellana, the daughter of Chetak.
» Mahavira was married to Yashoda (daughter of Samarvia king) and a produced a daughter Anonjn Priyadnrshini whose husband Jamali, became the first disciple of Mahavira.
» At the age of 30, after the death of his father, he renounced his family, became an ascetic and proceeded in search of truth. He was accompanied by Makkhali Gosala, but later due to some differences Gosala left him and founded Ajivika sect.
» At the age of 42, under a sal tree at Jambhikagrama on the bank of river Rijupalika, Mahavira attained Kaivalya (supreme knowledge).
» From now onwards he was called Kevalin (perfect learned), Jina or Jitendriya (one who conquered his senses), Nrigrantha (free from all bonds), Arhant (blessed one) and Mahavira (the brave) and his followers were named jain.
» He delivered his first sermon at Pava to his 11 disciples (known as 11 Gandharas / Gandharvas). Later, he founded a Jain Sangha (Jain commune) at Pava.
» At the Age of 72 in 468 BC, he passed away at Pavapuri near Biharsharif in Bihar. Sudharma only one of 11 Ganadharas who survived after the death of Mahavira.