Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.s1.t3.2

Language: English

c14.s1.t3.2.1

Gosāla Mankhaliputta was born in the settlement Saravana in the cow-shed of a Brahmira Gosāla's father was called mankhali because he was a mankha or mendicant who went about begging alms by showing a picture which he carried in his hand Once he came to Saravana and took refuge during the rainy season in the cow-shed where his wife bore him a son Since the child was born in a cow-shed (gosālā) he was called by the name of Gosala Gosāla grew up and having learnt the profession of a mankha, went about begging Once he arrived in Rājagaha and put up in a weaver's shed (tantusālā) in Nālandā About that time Mahāvīra also was putting up there In the course of his stay there, Gosāla observed extraordinary respect being paid to Mahāvīra and requested him to make him his disciple Once they were travelling together from Siddhatthagāma to Kummagāma, on their way they passed a large sesame plant On seeing it Gosāla asked Mahāvīra whether the plant would perish or not The latter replied that the plant would perish, and the seeds would form in vessels Later on, however, this prophecy of Mahāvīra came to be true In the meantime, Mahāvīra and Gosāla passed on to Kummagāma where they met the ascetic Vesiyāyana who was sitting with up-raised arms and upturned face in the glare of the sun while his body was swarming with lice Gosāla teased him, whereupon Vesiyāyana attempted to strike Gosāla with his magic power, known as tejolesa, but Mahāvīra interposed his own magic and saved Gosāla Then Mahāvīra explained Gosāla the course to obtain the magic power Shortly afterwards Mahāvīra and Gosāla returned to Siddhatthagāma and passed the same sesame plant.

c14.s1.t3.2.2

At this time there arose a difference of opinion with regard to the plant and Gosāla separated from Mahāvīra Gosāla followed the course of asceticism, and after six months acquired the magic powers He then professed himself as a Jina, and became the head of a sect called the Ājīvikas. Their chief centre was Sāvatthi where lived the woman Halahālā, potter by caste, a lay disciple of the Jīvas Once Gosāla was staying in her shop in the twenty fourth year of his ascetic life when the Dīvāras came to visit him At this time Mahāvīra also was staying in Sāvatthī, and he related the above account of Gosāla’s life and denied his claim to Jinahood. When Gosāla heard this he was greatly annoyed. He called Ānanda, a disciple of Mahāvīra and told him that, if his teacher ever came in his way, he would destroy him by his magic power. Ānanda went to Mahāvīra and told him what Gosāla had said. Mahāvīra admitted Gosāla’s power, but added that it could have no effect on an Arhat, because the magic powers of the latter were still greater. He further told Ānanda to forbid his followers to hold any intercourse with the heretical Gosāla. In the meantime Gosāla with his followers went to Mahāvīra and said that his pupil, Gosāla Mankhaliputta, is long since dead, while he was really Udāyī Kuṇḍiyāyaniya. He then proceeded to explain in detail his theories and enumerated his own seven births. In reply Mahāvīra told him that he acted like a thief imagining that he could not be recognised.

c14.s1.t3.2.3

Gosāla now getting angry, began to abuse Mahāvīra and destroyed his two disciples by means of his magic power. Now Gosāla shot forth his magic power of destruction against Mahāvīra, and declared that he would die of bilious fever within six months. But Mahāvīra replied that he would yet live sixteen years longer, while on the contrary, Gosāla’s magic power would recoil on him and that he would perish of bilious fever within seven days. The rumour of this dispute spread through the town and there was much discussion among the people as to whose threat would prove true. Now Mahāvīra told his ascetics that they might go to Gosāla and worry him with questions and discussions. Gosāla returned to Hālāhalā’s shop, where in the delirium of fever, he gave himself up to drinking, singing, dancing, soliciting Hālāhalā and sprinkling himself with cool muddy water. On this Mahāvīra took occasion to explain his followers that the magic power discharged by Gosāla was powerful enough to cause the destruction of the people of the sixteen traditional janapadas. At this time a layman of the Ājīvika sect, happened to go to visit Mankhaliputta, but observing him in his delirious state he felt ashamed and wanted to retire quietly, but the theras about Mankhaliputta called him to stay. Later on feeling certain of his death Mankhaliputta instructed his theras to bury him after his death with every mark of honour and to proclaim publicly that with him the last Tīrthankara had passed away.