Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

SR No.: 001605
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 334
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 21 MB

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suitable individual making it everlasting. With this idea he wrote a letter to organizers of the forthcoming ascetic congregation requesting them to send two well-qualified ascetics to study under him. The organizers sent two scholarly ascetics named Bhūtabali and Puspadanta. When they arrived, the ācārya interviewed them and at an auspicious moment commenced their lessons. Immediately on completion of studies he sent them back because he knew that his end was approaching fast. After bidding goodbye the two ascetics came to Ankalesvara and spent the monsoon stay there. At the end of Caturmāsa (monsoon-stay) Puspadanta went to Vanavāsa country with Jinapālita. Ācārya Puspadanta wrote Satprarūpaņā with twenty chapters and taught it to Jinapālita. Then he sent him to Ācārya Bhūtabalī. Realizing that Puşpadanta had very little time to live, Bhūtabalī wrote Satakhandāgama in Dravyapramāṇanugama style (a style of disquisition based on practical evidence). Compiling this work in book format he worshipped it (Sruta jñāna) in company of the whole religious organization. After this he sent it with ascetic Jinapālita to Ācārya Puspadanta. Along with the four fold religious organization (sangha) Ācārya Puşpadanta also worshipped this great compendium of doctrines. This was done on Jyeștha sukla fifth. Since that day the popular festival called Sruta Pañcami is celebrated as the anniversary of the first worship of Śruta jñāna.
Vīra Śāsana Divasa - Bhagavāna Mahāvīra attained omniscience on the banks of Rjukula river, outside Jļmbhika village, on Vaišākha sukla tenth. With the permission of Indra, Kubera (the god of wealth) created a divine pavilion. But in absence of a Gañadhara a Tirthankara does not utter the divine word. This continued for 66 days. Bhagavāna was on the Vipulācala hill around Rājagrha. Indra brought famous Brahmin scholar Indrabhūti of the Gautam clan there. As soon as Indrabhūti beheld Bhagavāna he greeted him humbly and got initiated as an ascetic. Once Indrabhūti got initiated Bhagavāna's silence was broken and his divine sermon commenced. It was Śrāvaņa krsņā first. Since then this day is celebrated as the anniversary of Mahāvīra's order (Vira Śāsana Jayanti) or the day on which Bhagavāna Mahāvīra launched the wheel of religion.
Raksā Bandhana - Śrīvarmā, the king of Ujjain had four ministers - Bali, Namuci, Prahlāda, and Vșhaspati. They were staunchly anti-Jain. Once Ācārya Akampana with his 700 strong ascetic sangha came to
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