Bimbisara

Not to be confused with Bindusara.
For the 2022 Indian film, see Bimbisara (film).

Bimbisara
Bimbisara with his royal cortege issuing from the city of Rajagriha to visit the Buddha.
King of Magadha
Reignc. 544 – c. 492 BCE or c. 457 – c. 405 BCE (52 years)
PredecessorBhattiya (as Chieftain)
SuccessorAjatashatru
DynastyHaryanka
Born558 BCE or 472 BCE
Died491 BCE or 405 BCE
Bimbisar Jail, Rajgriha, Magadha, Haryanka Empire
SpouseKosala Devī
Chellanā
Dharini
Kṣemā / Khemā
Nandā[1]
Padmāvatī / Padumavatī
Ambapālī
IssueAjatashatru
DynastyHaryanka
FatherBhattiya
ReligionJainism
Buddhism

Bimbisāra (in Buddhist tradition) 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 Magadha (r. 543 – 492 BCE[8] or r. 457 – 405 BCE[6][9]) and belonged to the Haryanka dynasty.[10] He was the son of Bhattiya.[11] 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.[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]

  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. ^ Jain & Upadhye 2000, p. 59.
  4. ^ Hugh George Rawlinson (1950), A Concise History of the Indian People. Oxford University Press, p. 46.
  5. ^ F. Max Muller (2001): The Dhammapada And Sutta-nipata. Routledge (UK), p. xlvii. ISBN 0-7007-1548-7.
  6. ^ a b Sarao, K. T. S. (2003), "The Ācariyaparamparā and Date of the Buddha.", Indian Historical Review, 30 (1–2): 1–12, 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. ^ Peter N. Stearns (2001), The Encyclopedia of World History. Houghton Mifflin, p. 76 ff. ISBN 0-395-65237-5.
  11. ^ Raychaudhuri 1923, p. 97.
  12. ^ a b "Bimbisara". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  13. ^ Dundas, Paul (2 September 2003). The Jains. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-50165-6.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).