Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s1.15

c5.s1.15

The *Bhagavatī*¹⁵ records the discussion that took place between Mahāvīra and the samaṇa Gāṅgeya, a follower of Pārśva, in Vāṇiyagāma. Gāṅgeya gave up the *Caujjāmadhamma* (the doctrine of the four-fold restraint) and embraced the *Pañcamahavvaya* (the five greater vows) of Mahāvīra. Kālāsavesiyaputta was another follower of Pārśva who became a follower of Mahāvīra.¹⁶ Then the *Nāyādhammakahā* refers to Puṇḍarīya who plucked out his hair and accepted the four vows.¹⁷ The city of Tuṅgiyā is stated to have been the centre of the theras, the followers of Pārśva, who moved in a congregation of five hundred monks. It is said that the lay adherents of the town went to attend to their religious sermons and were highly delighted. The names of the theras Kāliyaputta, Mehila, Ānandarakkhiya and Kāsava are particularly mentioned here.¹⁸ Further, the Nāyādhammakahā¹⁹ and the Niryāvaliyāo²⁰ refer to a number of lay women who joined the order of Pārśva. We hear of the renunciation ceremony of the old maiden (vaddakumārī), Kālī, who joined the ascetic order of Pārśva and was entrusted to Pupphacūlā, the head of the nuns.²¹