Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.s1.t3.2.2

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.