Bhagwān Mahāvīr ke liye “gochari” (bhikshā / āhār) kai grihasthon ne apne-apne samay par dī, lekin sabse prasiddh aur itihaasik roop se yaad ki jānī vālī gochari Chandanbālā (Chandana / Vasumatī) ne dī thī.

Katha anusar: Mahāvīr Bhagwān ne dīkshā ke baad kaṭhor tapascharyā ke daurān bahut lambi upsvas (upavās) kiye. Unhone man-mein sankalp kiyā thā ki ve kuchh vishesh sharton ke pūre hone par hī pehli baar gochari grahan karenge. Ye sabhi sharteṅ dāsī ban chukī rajkumārī Chandanbālā par pūri huīṅ –

• pahle rajkumārī thī,
• sir ke baal munde huye the,
• pairon mein bediyāṅ (bēṛī) lagi thi,
• ek pair ghar ke andar, ek bāhar,
• aur ākhon mein ānsu.

Tab Mahāvīr Bhagwān ne unse udaid dal (kaale chane / dal) ki gochari grahan kī. Isi ko unki prasiddh pehli gochari batāyā jātā hai, aur Chandanbālā ko Mahāvīr Bhagwān kī pahli śrāvikā mānā jātā hai.

Is sundar kahānī ko aap vistrit roop se yahan padh sakte hain