Epithets of Lord Mahavira in early jain canon

Summary

This scholarly article by Dalsukh Malvania explores the development and historical evolution of the epithets attributed to Lord Mahavira in early Jain canonical texts. It shows that Mahavira, like other leaders of Śramaṇa traditions, was originally referred to using general titles such as Muni, Mahāna, Nayaputta, Bhagavant, Jina, and Arhat—terms that were not exclusive to Jainism and were also used in Brahmanical and Buddhist contexts. Over time, however, many of these epithets gained specificity and reverence, gradually becoming exclusive titles or names for Mahavira. The earliest canonical text, Ācārāṅga Part I, does not refer to him as Tīrthaṅkara or use the term Sarvajña (omniscient), suggesting an earlier historical layer. By contrast, Ācārāṅga Part II and Sūtrakṛtāṅga Parts I and II introduce more evolved epithets such as Tīrthaṅkara, Kevalī, and Sarvajña, along with mythological elements indicating later doctrinal development. The paper demonstrates that titles like Mahāvīra, originally epithets denoting heroism or virtue, eventually replaced his birth name Vardhamāna and became central identifiers. Through philological and textual analysis, the study concludes that the gradual sanctification of Mahavira’s titles reflects the maturing of Jain doctrinal identity and distinguishes earlier textual layers from later, more sectarian developments.