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60 Jaina Religion: Its Historical Journey of Evolution
branches continued till the time of Devardhi Gani Kşamāśramaņa (Vira Nirvāṇa Sarvat 980). We come to know about the tradition of Acārya Sthūlibhadra from Sthavirāvali of Kalpasūtra, its numerous ganas, branches, subs-branches etc. that is further substantiated from the records of Mathura, which authenticates the Sthavirāvali of Kalpasūtra. The Pattāvali (genealogical list) of Digambara tradition up to 1000 years of Mahāvīra's nirvāna is certainly later and secondly it dose not have any ancient literary or documentary evidence to substantiate it except mentioning Bhadrabāhu's name. And the evidence related to Bhadrabāhu is also new. Thus, from a historical perspective their authenticity can be questioned. The significant changes that have taken place in the Nirgrantha-samgha of north India after Mahāvīra's nirvāṇa up to 1" and 2m century AD can be understood with the help of Agamas in Ardhamāgadhi and with the art and documents of Mathura. The special feature of Mathura art is that the Tīrthankara's idols are naked, but they hide their nudity with a cloth or a blanket. Besides cloth and blanket all such objects such as bowl, bag, mouth-cloth piece and broom (pratilekhana), are included in the requisites of the monks. The names of monks their gana, branch, family name etc. can be found in Sthavirāvali of Kalpasūtra of
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