________________
128
GANADHARA METĀRYA
Ganadhara Métārya of Filip Kaundinya gotra was the tenth Canadhara of śramaga Bhagavān Mahăvira. He was born at fought Vacchhapuri. His father was 78 Datta and his mother was tout Varuņadévi. He was a Brāhmin by caste. He was well-versed in the four Vedas and the six sofors Upārgas,-Supplementary Sciences. He had three hundred pupils who were receiving instruction in various branches of learning under him.
Paņạita Métārya had a doubt in his mind about me Para-bhava.-Next Life. He held that the Soul existed as an aggregate of the five elements of which the body is composed and that the Soul disappeared with the dissolution of the elements of the body. How can there be any thing like per Para loka,-Next World, and gaxa Puna-r-bhava, Re-birth?
When, however, Pandita Métārya approached śramaga Bhagavān Mahāvira with the object of removing his doubt, he was addressed thus
अय परमवसन्दिग्ध मेतार्य नाम पण्डितप्रवरम् । ऊचे विसुर्ययास्पं वेदार्य किं न भावयसि ? ॥१॥
1. Atha parabhava-sandigdham Métāryam nāma paņdita
pravaram; Ucxé vibhu-r-yathāstham Védārtham kim na bhāvayasi ?
1. The Lord ( śramana Bhagavān Mahāvīra ) told the excellent learned man, named Métarya, who had a doubt about
Ta Parabhava,-Next Life-" Why do you not trace out the exact meaning of the verses of the Vedas ?
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
