Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.s1.t3.2.1

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.