Gommateshvara Commemoration Volume

SR No.: 012066
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Parshwanath Shodhpith Varanasi
Publication Year: 1981
Total Pages: 198
Language: English, Hindi
Classification: Smruti_Granth & Articles
File Size: 8 MB

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Gommagesvara Commemoration Volume versions of Bhadrabāhu story, the events of the life of Ācārārga Srutapāthi Bhadrabāhu are mixed up with the events of the life of Dvādaśāngi Bhadrąbāhu.
There are five inscriptions' at Sravanabelgoļa which speak of Bhadrabāhu. Four of these inscriptions with the exception of inscription No. 1, are related to Dvādaśāngi Bhadrabāhu. Rice, who for the first time brought to light the inscriptions of Sravanabelgoļa and attracted the attention of scholars towards the names of Bhabrabahu and Candragupta in the inscriptions, has somehow, made a mistake in recognising Bhadrabāhu Dvādaśāngi as the central figure of Inscription No. 1. It is stated earlier that in this inscription the name Bhadrabāhu occurs twice. First it occurs as the eighth name in the list of succession of Ācāryas starting from Gautama Ganadhara and ending with Buddhila. There is an invariable tradition which places Dvadaśāngi Bhadrabāhu as the 8th successor in the line of Ācāryas starting from Gautama Ganadhara. Therefore without any doubt we can assert that the eighth name in the Inscription refers to Dvādaśāngi Bhadrabāhu. The name Bhadrabahu again for the second time occurs after the end of the list of the names of Ācāryas as...... 'Buddhilādi guru parampareņa kramābhyāgata mahāpuruşa santati samavadyoritānvaya Bhadrabāhusvāminā......' It is very clear from this statement that the name Bhadrabāhu occuring for the second time is indicative of a person who is definitely different from (Dvādaśāngi) Bhadrabāhu mentioned earlier. Therefore this second name must be indicative of either Aştā igapäthi Bhadrabahu or Ācārārgapāļhi Bhadrabāhu. Earlier it is pointed out that the accounts of Dvādašāngi Bhadrabahu and Ācārāngapathi Bhadrabahu are in stories somehow fused together to form a single narrative. The reason for this must be something more than the identity of names. In other words similarity of events that took place in the lives of two Bhadrabāhus must have led to the confusion while handing down traditional accounts, and thus must have fused together into a single narrative. This similarity of the events in the life of two Bhadrabāhus must be with reference to the journey undertaken by both of them to Dakşiņāpatha and this is supported by the statements of the inscriptions. Four inscriptions with the exception of No. 1 mentioned earlier, speak of Dvādaśangi Bhadrabāhu's spending of his last days on Candragiri with his disciple Candragupta. Further it is clear from inscription No. 1, that the person indicated in it by the second name 'Bhadrabāhu,' who happens to be the central figure of this inscription, also migrated to south with the Munisangha and spent his last days on Candragiri with his disciple PRABHĀCANDRA. It is stated in the inscription itself that this second Bhadra