Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s1.24

c5.s1.24

Further, the Sūyagaḍaṅga²² mentions Udaya Peḍhālaputta, a Nigaṇtha follower of Pārśva of the Meyajja (Skr Medārya) gotta. There were religious discussions between him and Goyama Indabhūi, after which the latter took him to Mahāvīra, where he gave up the doctrine of four restraints and took up the five great vows, as ordained by the Teacher. The Rāyapaseniya²³ refers to a young monk (kumārasamaṇa)²⁴ named Kesī, who was a follower of Pārśva and knew fourteen Pūrvas. Once he visited the town of Sāvatthī in a congregation of five hundred monks. The charioteer Citta attended his religious sermons and invited him to Seyaviyā. In course of time, Kesī visited Seyaviyā where a discussion took place between him and king Paesī, and the latter being convinced of his opponent's doctrine became an adherent of the Samanas. Kesī is also referred to in the Uttarādhyayana Sūtra where an important historical meeting is recorded to have taken place between him and Goyama, the representatives of the two branches of the Jain Church, in Sāvatthī. In this council many important questions were discussed and finally Kesī accepted the five-fold vows preached by Mahāvīra.²⁵