Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s3.3

c5.s3.3

During his *Tīrthankara* career Mahāvīra travelled a number of places and ordained various kings, princes, tradesmen and high officials. Like Pārśva, he too divided his community (*sangha*) into four orders, viz., monks, nuns, lay men and lay women, each *sangha* consisting of a super-monk. Goyama Indabhūi and Candanā were Mahāvīra's first male and female disciples respectively. Mahāvīra exercised his influence in various royal families, and the kings Cetaka,⁵¹ Seniya,⁵² Kūṇiya,⁵³ Udayana,⁵⁴ Dadhivāhana,⁵⁵ Pajjoya⁵⁶ and others are said to have become his great devotees. Mahāvīra is also said to have ordained the kings Uddāyana⁵⁷ of Sindhusovīra, Siva⁵⁸ of Hatthināpura, Sāla and Mahāsāla⁵⁹ of Pitthicampā, Cilāya⁶⁰ of Kodivarisa and others. Among women from the royal families, Jayantī⁶¹ and Miyāvai of Kosambī, eight queens of Pajjoya including Angāravatī,⁶² and ten queens of Seniya including Kālī⁶³ are stated to be prominent. Among princes may be mentioned Mehakumāra,⁶⁴ Nandisena,⁶⁵ Abhayakumāra,⁶⁶ Halla, Vihalla⁶⁷ and others.