Bimbisara

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Bimbisāra (in Buddhist tradition) or Shrenika (Template:Transliteration) and Seniya (Template:Transliteration) in the Jain histories Template:Sfn Template:Sfn (Template:Circa<ref>Hugh George Rawlinson (1950), A Concise History of the Indian People. Oxford University Press, p. 46.</ref><ref>F. Max Muller (2001): The Dhammapada And Sutta-nipata. Routledge (UK), p. xlvii. Template:ISBN.</ref> or Template:Circa<ref name=Sarao>Template:Citation</ref><ref>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."</ref>) was the King of Magadha (Template:Reign<ref name=IH>V. K. Agnihotri (ed.), Indian History. Allied Publishers, New Delhi ²⁶2010, p. 166 f.</ref> or Template:Reign<ref name=Sarao/><ref>Keay, India: A History</ref>) and belonged to the Haryanka dynasty.<ref name=Stearns>Peter N. Stearns (2001), The Encyclopedia of World History. Houghton Mifflin, p. 76 ff. Template:ISBN.</ref> He was the son of Bhattiya.Template:Sfn His expansion of the kingdom, especially his annexation of the kingdom of Anga to the east, is considered to have laid the foundations for the later expansion of the Mauryan Empire.<ref name=be>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He frequently visited Samavasarana of Lord Mahavira seeking answers to his queries.<ref name=":1" />

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).<ref name="IH" /> He was succeeded on the throne by his son Ajatashatru.<ref name="be" />

LifeEdit

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File:Bamboo garden (Venuvana) at Rajagriha, the visit of Bimbisara.jpg

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.Template:Sfn He established the Haryanka dynasty and laid the foundations of Magadha with the fortification of a village, which later became the city of Pataliputra.Template:Sfn Bimbisara's first capital was at Girivraja (identified with Rajagriha). He led a military campaign against Anga, perhaps to avenge his father's earlier defeat at the hands of its king, Brahmadatta. The campaign was successful, Anga was annexed, and prince Kunika (Ajatashatru) was appointed governor at Champa.Template:Sfn 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.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Sfn Pukkusati, the king of Gandhara, sent Bimbisara an embassy.Template:Sfn

His court is said to have included Sona Kolivisa, Sumana (flower gatherer), Koliya (minister), Kumbhaghosaka (treasurer) and Jivaka (physician).Template:Sfn

Marriage alliancesEdit

Bimbisara used marriage alliances to strengthen his position. His first wife was Kosala Devi, the daughter of Mahā Kosala, the king of Kosala, and a sister of Prasenajit.Template:Sfn His bride brought him Kashi as dowry.<ref>Eck, Diana. (1998) Banaras, Columbia University Press. p. 45. Template:ISBN.</ref> This marriage also ended the hostility between Magadha and Kosala and gave him a free hand in dealing with the other states. His second wife, Chellana, was a Licchavi princess from Vaishali and daughter of the Jain<ref name="Datta 1988">Template:Cite book</ref> king Chetaka.<ref>Luniya, Bhanwarlal Nathuram. (1967) Evolution of Indian Culture, Lakshmi Narain Agarwal. p. 114.</ref> His third wife, Kshema, was a daughter of the chief of the Madra clan of Punjab.<ref>Krishna, Narendra. (1944) History of India, A. Mukherjee & bros. p. 90.</ref> Mahavagga depicts him having 500 wives.Template:Sfn

DeathEdit

File:Bimbisarajail.jpg

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

As per Buddhism, due to influence by Devadatta (a Buddhist monk), Bimbisāra was assassinated by his son Ajatashatru in Template:Circa, who then succeeded him to the throne. However, as per Jainism, Bimbisāra committed suicide.<ref name=":0" />

Traditional accountsEdit

JainismEdit

Bimbisara is referred to as ShrenikaTemplate:Sfn Template:Sfn of Rajgir in Jain literature who became a devotee of Jainism impressed by the calmness of Jain Muni Yamadhar.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name="Datta 1988"/> He frequently visited Samavasarana of Mahavira seeking answers to his queries. He asked about the jain Ramayana<ref name=":1">Template:Citation</ref> and an illuminating sage (King Prasana).<ref>Template:Citation</ref> He is said to be a Balabhadra in one of his previous lives.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

File:Padmanabh Swami.jpg

An idol of Padmanabh Swami (Shrenika Maharaja), the first Tirthankara of the next time cycle as per Śvetāmbara iconography at Jain Center of Southern California, Buena Park, California

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.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

BuddhismEdit

File:Bimbisar welcoming Buddha Roundel 30 buddha ivory tusk.jpg

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.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

OthersEdit

According to Puranas, Bimbisara ruled Magadha for a period of 28 or 38 years. Sinhalese chronicles date his reign to be of 52 years.Template:Sfn A fictionalised version of Bimbisara appears in the 2022 Indian film Bimbisara.

ReferencesEdit

CitationsEdit

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