Religion and Culture of the Jains

SR No.: 014007
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: D C Sirkar
Publisher: University of Calcutta
Publication Year: 1973
Total Pages: 168
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 10 MB

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A. M. SHASTRI
Pattavalis belonging to the Nandi-sangha and the Sarasvatigaccha mention two Bhadrabāhus, the first of whom was the last śrutakė valin and is said to have been the disciple of the fourth śrutakevalin, Govardhana, and expired 162 years after Mahavira's nirvāņa.25 The second Bhadrabahu is spoken of as having flourished 492 years after the death of Mahāvira, that is, in Vikrama 22 or 35 B.C. and is described as the pupil of Yasobhadra. His pontificate is said to have covered twentythree years, i.e., 35-12 B.C. The Paṭṭāvali of the Nandi Amnaya of the Sarasvati-gaccha begins with him.26 It must be pointed out in this connection that the famous Digambara author Kundakunda describes himself in his Chappahuḍa (Satprabhṛrta) as a pupil of Bhadrabahu 27 who is generally identified with the second teacher of this name known to the Digambara tradition. 28 There is, however, a serious difficulty in accepting this identification. This Bhadrabahu is spoken of as well-versed in the twelve Angas and fourteen Pūrvas, 29 a description applicable only to the first Bhadrabāhu. It is also noteworthy that Kundakunda refers to Bhadrabahu as a gamaya-guru (gamaka-guru) or traditional teacher, and not as an ordinary teacher. Kundakunda had, thus, nothing to do with Bhadrabahu II.
25 As stated above, the Svetāmbaras place his death 170 years after Mahāvira's passing away.
26 H. Jacobi, The Kalpasūtra of Bhadrabahu, intro., pp. 10ff.; Ind. Ant., Vol. II, p. 245; Vol. XXI, pp. 57ff. This Bhadrabahu is mentioned only in the Pattavalis, other texts remaining reticent about him. According to some scholars, the episode of the migration of the Jain community to South India recorded in literature and some late inscriptions from Mysore was connected with Bhadrabahu II. See J. F. Fleet in Ind. Ant., Vol. XII, pp. 156ff.; Kailash Chandra Shastri, op. cit., pp. 350-351. The suggestion is, however, not satisfactory.
27 Satprabhṛta (by Surajbhan Vakil, Varanasi, 1910), Bodha-pāda, verse 62.
28 M. Winterniz, A History of Indian Literature, Vol. II, pp. 476-77, 577.
29 Barasa-Anga-viyāṇaṁ caüddasa-Puvvanga-viula-vittharaṇaṁ Suyanani Bhaddabāhu gamaya-guru bhayavao jayaй||
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