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was erected there. Since then the Vira-sāsana Jayantī is being celebrated on this 1st day of the black half of Srāvana, Still the Memorial and the Sacred Day have not won universal prestige (and importance) commensurate with their historical significance. Some efforts must be made in this direction. This is the spot where not only the first religious sermon of lord Mahāvīra was given out, but it is here that famous Indra-bhūti Gautama, well-versed in Vedas, came to Mahāvīra and also accepted his leadership and became the first Ganadhara. It is here that Gautama presented Lord's divine Message, classifying it into Arigas and Pūrvas and giving them the shape of texts (granth-ārūdha). It is here that Sreņika Bimbasāra, the king of Magadha, received the instructions of Mahāvīra; and having discussed religious topics with Gautama Ganadhara, he laid the foundation of Jaina purāṇas and tales. It is here that Śreņika incurred that meritorious karmic bondage whereby in his subsequent birth as a man he was destined to be the future Tīrthakara, Mahā-padma by name.
12. Place of Mahāvira's Nirvāņa Having attained omniscience (kevala-jñāna) on the bank of Rju-kūlā and after preaching the principle of Jainism through his divine voice (divya-dhvani), lord Mahāvīra toured over different areas of the country and propounded the religous doctrines. Afterwards he reached Pāvāpura and seated himself on a clean or pure slab of stone in a park studded with many ponds. He did not move out for two days; and plunged in pure meditation (sukla-dhyāna) he quitted the mortal coil and became a Siddha in the last quarter of the night of the 14th day of the black half of the month of Kārtika. This is graphically described in the Mahā-puraņu of Pușpadanta (3, 1-2): अंतित्थ-णाहु वि महि विहरिवि, जण-दुरियाइँ दुलंघइँ पहरिवि; 41914-95 9778 YER; 44-46-4creifa afor TE-H-aft
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