Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c20.10

c20.10

Jain texts mention a number of kings and rulers who were contemporaries of Mahāvīra, but it should be noted that except for a few well-known kings such as Śreṇika, Kūṇika, Pradyota and Udayana, none of them is identified. We know nothing even about such a powerful king as Ceṭaka, who was followed of eighteen republican kings of Kāśī and Kosala and a staunch follower of Jain religion. Similarly, nothing is heard about Dadhivāhana of Campā, Dasannabhadda of Dasanna and Udāyana 'Rudrāyana of the Buddhists' of Vītabhaya so well-known in the Jain Canons. The last mentioned king is described as one of the eight chief kings¹ ordained by Lord Mahāvīra himself. In the same way other contemporary kings² of Mahāvīra are unidentified so far, and their historicity is in absolute darkness.