________________
in
Pa val of
Nand congregation
apabhra
msa language
) and Jamb Caritra (Sanskrit
12 years
12 years
12 years
8 years
12 years
12 years
18 years
Gautama Sw m Sudharm Sw m Jamb Sw m Total
44 years
40 years
38 years
18 years
64 years
64 years
62 years
36 years
With the above table it becomes clear that according to the vet mbara sect, a period of 64 years from V.N.1 to 64 is considered as Keval Period, whereas according to the scriptures (mentioned above) of Digambara tradition three different opinions are found. In spite of these different versions, the present Digambara tradition unanimously agrees that Keval period was extended up to 62 years.
In many authentic scriptures of vet mbara tradition, substantial evidence has been brought to light proving that even during the existence of Indrabh ti Gautama, rya Sudharm was considered as the first pontiff of Lord Mah v ra. This topic is elaborately discussed in this text under the heading of Keval period. The gist is as follows:
1.
During his own life time, omniscient Lord Mah v ra appointed his eleven chief disciples as Ga adharas; He knew that rya Sudharm had longevity of life; By saying “placing you in the rank of Pivot, I am giving orders of the Ga a" i.e. he, in a way, announced that Sudharm would be his successor. Some time after the nirva of Mah v ra, in the same night, Indrabh ti Gautama had attained omniscience. The person who had attained omniscience could not be nominated as a pontiff.
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