Tirthankar Mahavir

SR No.: 020834
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 235
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 57 MB

Page 188

Genealogy of Venerable Mahavira
Jain religion is beginningless. In order to preserve and protect it and also to make accessible to all, the venerable tirthankara established the fourfold order of monks. nunc laywomen. This fourfold order served as the four main supporting pillars of the great palace of religio organisation of the tirthankara. The task of keeping the religion alive was assigned to the fourfold order. And to firmly establish the glory of the fourfold order, the tirthankara himself saluted it with the words "namo titthassa".
Venerable Mahavira was the twenty-fourth and the last tirthankara of this half-time-cycle. 430 years before the commencement of Vikrama era, Tirthankara Mahavira left the mortal world. And Shri Gautamaswami, the first chief disciple of venerable Mahavira, attained omniscience on that very day. The responsibility of leading and protecting the fourfold order fell on the shoulders of Sudharmaswami, the fifth chief disciple of Tirthankara Mahavira. So the genealogy of Mahavira starts with him as die first and foremost leader of the fourfold order. The succession list of the leaders of the fourfold order begins with Sudharmaswami. This is the reason why all sects, groups, gacchas, kulas and samudayas of monks and nuns consider Sudharmaswami as their first head.
Jambuswami, a disciple of Sudharmaswami, was the last omniscient. After Jambuswami, the responsibility of leading the fourfold order was borne by the great monks expert in scriptures, venerable sthaviras, brilliant acaryas and other illustrious torch-bearers. This long uninterrupted line of leaders of the fourfold order has come down to the present day, from the days of Mahavira. It has imparted glory to the Jaina tradition of religious practices and scriptural learning.
When we think of this long line of the leacers of the fourfold order, names of so many illustrious and great personages come to our minds who have raised the Jaina religion to lofty position and have
propagated it far and wide.