Bimbisara

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Bindusara.
For the Telugu-language film, see Bimbisara (film).

Bimbisara
Haryanka
Born558 BCE or 472 BCE
Died491 BC or 405 BCE
SpouseKosala Devī
Chellanā
Dharini
Kṣemā / Khemā
Nandā[1]
Padmāvatī / Padumavatī
Ambapālī
IssueAjatashatru
DynastyHaryanka
FatherBhattiya
ReligionJainism, Buddhism

Bimbisāra (in Buddhist tradition) or རྒྱལ་པོ་གཟུགས་ཅན་སྙིང་པོ་ (Tibetan) or Shrenika (Śreṇika) and Seniya (Seṇiya) in the

Jain histories[2][3] (c. 558 – c. 491 BCE[4][5] or c. 472 – c. 405 BCE[6][7]
) was the King of
Mauryan Empire.[12]

According to Jain Tradition, he is said to be the first Tirthankara (will be named as Padmanabha / Mahapadma) out of 24th Tirthankara of the future cosmic age.[13] He frequently visited Samavasarana of Lord Mahavira seeking answers to his queries.[14]

According to Buddhist Tradition, he is also known for his cultural achievements and was a great friend and protector of the

Buddha. According to the 7th century Chinese monk Xuanzang, Bimbisara built the city of Rajgir (Rajagriha).[8] He was succeeded on the throne by his son Ajatashatru.[12]

Life

Map of the eastern Gangetic plain before Bimbisāra's conquests
(Licchavi's dependencies, in green, and Malla shown separately)
King Bimbisara visits the Bamboo Garden (Venuvana) in Rajagriha; artwork from Sanchi

Bimbisara was the son of Bhattiya, a chieftain. He ascended to throne at the age of 15 in 543 BCE.

Champa.[17] His conquest of Anga gave Magadha control over the routes to the Ganges Delta, which had important ports that gave access to the eastern coast of India.[18][19] Pukkusati, the king of Gandhara, sent Bimbisara an embassy.[15]

His court is said to have included Sona Kolivisa, Sumana (flower gatherer), Koliya (minister), Kumbhaghosaka (treasurer) and Jivaka (physician).[20]

Marriage alliances

Bimbisara used marriage alliances to strengthen his position. His first wife was

Licchavi princess from Vaishali and daughter of the Jain[23] king Chetaka.[24] His third wife, Kshema, was a daughter of the chief of the Madra clan of Punjab.[25] Mahavagga depicts him having 500 wives.[15]

Imprisoned

Bimbisara's jail, where King Bimbisāra was imprisoned, in Rajgir

As per Buddhism, due to influence by Dustabandu Divadatt (a Buddhist monk), Bimbisāra was assassinated by his son Ajatashatru in c. 493 BCE, who then succeeded him to the throne. However, as per Jainism, Bimbisāra committed suicide.[18]

Traditional accounts

Jainism

Bimbisara is referred to as Shrenika[26][3] of Rajgir in Jain literature who became a devotee of Jainism impressed by the calmness of Jain Muni Yamadhar.[27][23] He frequently visited Samavasarana of Lord Mahavira seeking answers to his queries. He asked about the jain Ramayana[14] and an illuminating sage (King Prasana).[28] He is said to be a Balabhadra in one of his previous lives.[29]

Per Jain scripture, Bimbisara killed himself in a fit of passion, after his son had imprisoned him. Consequently, he was reborn in hell, where he is currently residing, until the karma which led to his birth there comes to an end.[30][31] It is further written, that he will be reborn as Mahapadma (sometimes called Padmanabha), the first in the chain of future tirthankaras who are to rise at the beginning of the upward motion (Utsarpini) of the next era of time.[32]

Buddhism

Bimbisara welcomes the Buddha

According to Buddhist scriptures, King Bimbisara met the Buddha for the first time prior to the Buddha's enlightenment, and later became an important disciple that featured prominently in certain Buddhist suttas. He is recorded to have attained

sotapannahood, a degree of enlightenment in Buddhist teachings.[33] Although Bimbisara let the women in his palace visit Buddha in his monastery in the evenings; the women wanted a hair-and-nail stupa they could use to venerate the Buddha any time. Bimbisara spoke with Buddha who complied with their request.[34]

Others

According to

Telugu-language film Bimbisara
.

References

Citations

  1. ^ Chandra, Jnan (1958). "SOME UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT BIMBISĀRA". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 21. Indian History Congress: 215–217.
  2. ^ von Glasenapp 1999, p. 40-41.
  3. ^ a b Jain & Upadhye 2000, p. 59.
  4. ^ Hugh George Rawlinson (1950), A Concise History of the Indian People. Oxford University Press, p. 46.
  5. ISBN 0-7007-1548-7
    .
  6. ^
    doi:10.1177/037698360303000201
  7. ^ Keay, John: India: A History. Revised and Updated: "The date [of Buddha's meeting with Bimbisara] (given the Buddhist 'short chronology') must have been around 400 BC."
  8. ^ a b V. K. Agnihotri (ed.), Indian History. Allied Publishers, New Delhi 262010, p. 166 f.
  9. ^ Keay, India: A History
  10. ISBN 0-395-65237-5
    .
  11. ^ Raychaudhuri 1923, p. 97.
  12. ^ a b "Bimbisara". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  13. ISBN 978-1-134-50165-6
    .
  14. ^
    ISBN 9780143414216
  15. ^ a b c Sen 1999, p. 112.
  16. ^ Sastri 1988, p. 11.
  17. ^ Upinder Singh 2016, p. 269.
  18. ^
    ISBN 0-520-24225-4
    .
  19. ^ Kailash Chand Jain 1972, p. 99.
  20. ^ Upinder Singh 2016, p. 270.
  21. ^ Upinder Singh 2016, p. 271.
  22. ISBN 0-231-11447-8
    .
  23. ^
    ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0
    .
  24. ^ Luniya, Bhanwarlal Nathuram. (1967) Evolution of Indian Culture, Lakshmi Narain Agarwal. p. 114.
  25. ^ Krishna, Narendra. (1944) History of India, A. Mukherjee & bros. p. 90.
  26. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 36.
  27. ^ Queen Chelna and King Shrenik, archived from the original on 13 April 2019, retrieved 21 September 2015
  28. ^ Leshyas
  29. ^ Choksi, Mansi; Chhapia, Hemali (10 February 2011), "Now, meet Ravan the saint", The Times of India
  30. ^ Jaini 1998, p. 228.
  31. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 41.
  32. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 40-41.
  33. ISBN 9789402408522
  34. ISBN 978-0691117645
  35. ^ Kailash Chand Jain 1991, p. 88.

Sources

See also

  • Avanti-Magadhan Wars
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Bhattiya
 King of Magadha
543–491 BC 		Succeeded by
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