Acharya Sthulibhadra

SR No.: 201049
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 5
Language: English
Classification: Article, Jaina_Education, & 0_Jaina_education_Story
File Size: 1 MB

Page 5

ACHARYA STHULIBHADRA Bhadrabahu-swami and learn the twelfth Agam. Several monks undertook this long journey but only Sthulibhadra reached Nepal. He began to learn the twelfth Anga Agam and its 14 Purvas under Acharya Bhadrabahu. Once Sthulibhadra's sisters who were nuns, decided to visit him in Nepal. At this time, Sthulibhadra had completed 10 of the 14 Purvas. He wanted to impress them with the miraculous power he had acquired from learning the 10 Purvas and knowledge from the twelfth Agam. He transformed his body into a lion. When his sisters entered the cave, they found a lion instead of their brother. Fearful of what may have happened to him they went directly to Bhadrabahu-swami. Acharya Bhadrabahu realized what had happened and asked the sisters to go back to the cave again. This time Sthulibhadra had resumed his original form and the sisters were joyful to see him alive and well. However, Bhadrabahu-swami was disappointed that Sthulibhadra had misused his special power for such a trivial purpose. He felt that Sthulibhadra was not mature enough in his spiritual progress and therefore refused to teach him the remaining four Purvas. A chastised Sthulibhadra tried to persuade him to reconsider but Bhadrabahu-swami was firm. It was only when the Jain Sangha requested Acharya Bhadrabahu to reconsider his decision that Sthulibhadra was allowed to learn the remaining four Purvas. But Acharya Bhadrabahu attached two conditions for Sthulibhadra: * He would not teach Sthulibhadra the meaning of the last four Purvas * Sthulibhadra could not teach these four Purvas to any other monk Sthulibhadra agreed and learned the remaining four Purvas. Since Jain scriptures were not written down and Acharya Sthulibhadra had made significant effort to save them after the famine, his name stands very high in the history of Jainism. Even today, his name is recited next to Lord Mahavir and Gautam-swami by the Shvetambar tradition. It is never too late to set high goals in life, and with determination there is no adversity too difficult to overcome. Though he was 30 at the time, and had wasted 12 years of his life, Sthulibhadra still renounced the world and successfully pursued an austere spiritual life. With resolve he also conquered his biggest inner enemy, desire, by returning to the place where his desire had previously got the best of him. Ultimately, he became a famous Jain saint whose name is still repeated in prayers for his great religious work. 51 Jain STORY BOOK www.ainelibrary.org