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## Introduction
After the Nirvana of Bhagwan Mahavira, Gautam, Sudharma and Jambuswami were the first three to become Kevalis, holding all the Shruta (scriptural knowledge) and later only the knowledge of Kevala (omniscience). Their period was 62 years. After that, in 100 years, five Acharyas became Shruta Kevalis, knowing the complete twelve Angas (canonical texts): 1. Vishnu, 2. Nandi Mitra, 3. Aparajit, 4. Govardhan and 5. Bhadrabahu. Subsequently, eleven Acharyas became the knowers of eleven Angas and ten Purvas (ancient texts): 1. Vishakacharya, 2. Proshthil, 3. Kshatriya, 4. Jay, 5. Nag, 6. Siddharth, 7. Dhriti Sen, 8. Vijay, 9. Buddhil, 10. Gangdev and 11. Dharma Sen. Their period was 183 years. After that, five Acharyas became the holders of eleven Angas: 1. Nakshatra, 2. Jaypal, 3. Pandu, 4. Dhruvsen and 5. Kans. Their period was 220 years. After that, four Acharyas became the holders of only the Acharanga (one of the twelve Angas): 1. Subhadra, 2. Yashobhadra, 3. Yashobahu and 4. Lohary. Their period was 118 years. After this, the tradition of Angas and Purva knowers ended and all the Angas and Purvas were received by Acharya Dharasen from the Acharya tradition, knowing only one part. He was known for his unique knowledge of the fourth Maha Karma Prakriti Prabhrit (four major karmic categories).
This tradition of Shruta Avatara (transmission of scriptural knowledge) is according to Swami A. Vira Sen, the author of the Dhavala Tika, and Indranandi. The same order of Shruta Avatara is also found in the available Prakrit Pattavali (genealogical list) of the Nandi Sangha. Only some names of the Acharyas differ. However, according to the above chronology, it is clear that Acharya Dharasen came after 62 + 100 + 183 + 220 + 118 = 683 years after the Nirvana of Bhagwan Mahavira. According to the Pattavali of the Nandi Sangha, the period of Acharya Dharasen falls 614 years after the Nirvana of Bhagwan Mahavira. The Brihattippani, written by a Svetambar scholar and considered very authentic, places the period of Dharasen 600 years after the Nirvana of Bhagwan Mahavira.
Acharya Dharasen lived in the Chandragupta (Chandragufa) cave of Girinagar (Girnar mountain) in Kathiawad. When he became very old and saw his life remaining very short, he was worried that the knowledge of Shruta was declining day by day due to the influence of the Avasarpini Kala (period of decline). He thought, "Even today, no one has as much Shruta as I have. If I cannot entrust my Shruta to someone else, it will also end with me." With this concern and for the protection of Shruta, he composed the Yoni Prabhrit.
1. "Yoni Prabhritam Viraat 600 Dharasenam" (Brihattippani, Jain Sahitya Samsad, 1, 2, Appendix). This means that Acharya Dharasen composed the Yoni Prabhrit 600 years after the Nirvana of Bhagwan Mahavira. The Dhavala author also mentions the Yoni Prabhrit.