Magadha
and Srenika
Other kingdoms of prominence were those of Magadha and
Kosala. King Bimbisara (Srenika) of Magadha and his wife Cellana were very
ardent devotes of Mahavira. Bimbisara had built a very powerful empire and
developed friendly relationship with almost every powerful king of India
of his time. His first wife was the sister of Prasenajit, a powerful king
of Kosala. Anga Desa was conquered by him. King Canda Pradyota of Avanti
was very ambitious. He attacked Rajagrha, the then capital of Magadha, but
the attack was foiled by Bimbisara's very clever son Abhayakumar, also an
ardent devotee of Sri Mahavira. Thereafter, the Avanti king and the king
of Gandhara became very good friends of Bimbisara. Bimbisara is so much
respected by the Jainas that he is given the status of a Tirthankara in
the next time cycle.
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