Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s1.9

c5.s1.9

Pārśva and his disciples (*pāsāvaccijja*) are referred to in various Jain Canons. We learn from the *Ācārāṅga*¹⁰ that the parents of Mahāvīra followed the faith of Pārśva and were the adherents of the *Samaṇas*. The *Āvaśyaka Cūrṇi* mentions several ascetics of the Pārśva sect, who were present during the course of Mahāvīra’s wanderings as an ascetic. Uppala was a *pāsāvaccijja*, who after giving up the monastic order had entered the house-holder’s life (*pacchākaḍa*) and followed the profession of a fortune-teller (*nemitta*) in Atthiyagāma.¹¹ His two sisters named Somā and Jayantī had joined the order of Pārśva but being unable to continue the rigid ascetic life of his order they became *Parvrājikās* of the Brahmanic order. Later on, when Mahāvīra and Gosāla got into trouble in Corāya Sannivesa, they came to their rescue.¹² Then we meet thera Municanda, a follower of Pārśva, who dwelt in a potter’s shop in Kumārāya Sannivesa in the company of his disciples. When questioned by Gosāla, Municanda replied that they were *Samaṇa Nigganthas*. Gosāla asked as to how they could be called *Nigganthas* since they were possessed of so many personal assets, and he threatened to burn their place of residence (*padissaya*). Gosāla approached Mahāvīra and narrated this incident to him whereupon the latter remarked that these ascetics were the followers of Pārśva and he could do no harm to them.