the Madra clan of Punjab. Mahavagga depicts him having 500 wives. Death As per Buddhism, due to influence by Dustabandu Divadatt (a Buddhist monk), Bimbisara was assassinated by his son Ajatashatru in c. 493 BCE, who then succeeded him to the throne. However, as per Jainism, Bimbisara committed suicide. Traditional accounts Jainism Bimbisara is referred to as Shrenika of Rajgir in Jain literature who became a devotee of Jainism impressed by the calmness of Jain Mun Yamadhar. He frequently visited Samavasarana of Lord Mahavira seeking answers to his queries. He asked about the jain Ramayana and an illuminating sage (King Prasana). He is said to be a Balabhadra in one of his previous lives. 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. 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. Buddhism 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. 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. Others According to Puranas, Bimbisara ruled Magadha for a period of 28 or 38 years. Sinhalese chronicles date his reign to be of 52 years. References Citations Sources See also Avanti-Magadhan Wars 558 BC 491 BC 6th-century BC Indian Jains 6th-century BC Indian monarchs Jain monarchs Haryanka dynasty Kings of Magadha Disciples of Gautama Buddha 5th-century BC Indian Jains 5th-century BC Indian monarchs 550s BC births 490s BC deaths Indian Buddhist monarchs 6th-century BC Indian people