Prakrit Proper Names (Agamic Index I) v2.c8.s4.1330

v2.c8.s4.1330

Vesiyāyaṇa (Vaiśyāyaṇa) A stupid ascetic. He was the adopted son of Gosamkhi belonging to Gobbaragāma(1). His original mother was kidnapped and sold to a prostitute of Campā when he was yet babe. When he grew old, he happened to meet her and fixed sexual engagement with her. He, however, realised the mistake soon, felt disgusted with the world and took to asceticism.¹ Mahāvīra and Gosāla saw him at Kummagāma² with upraised arms and upturned face in the glare of the son. His body was swarming with lice. Gosāla frequently enquired whether he was a sage or a bed of lice. Vesiyāyaṇa got angry and struck him with tejoleśyā. Mahāvīra saved him by throwing śitaleśyā.³