Kalpasutra

SR No.: 600010
Original Sutra Author: Bhadrabahuswami
Author: Vinaysagar
Publisher: Rajasthan Prakruti Bharati Sansthan Jaipur
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 458
Language: Hindi
Classification: Manuscript, Canon, Literature, Paryushan, & agam_kalpsutra
File Size: 11 MB

Page 36

Mabavira's life has, indeed, been taken as the model for describing the lives of the other Tirtban karas. In speaking of Pårsva, Aristanemi and Rabha, the author of the Kalpas a tra says that the events in the lives of these three should be taken as being exactly parallel to those described in the case of Mahavira, except for the incidence of the transfer of embryo. Brabha is, in addition, described as a great sovereign, the first who taught men and women the various arts and crafts of civilization and culture.
Suter
2. Sthaviravali
This section, as the name indicates, contains a gencalogy of prominent Jain teachers. The list begins with the immediate disciples of Mahāvira. The last teacher to be mentioned is Devarddhigani Kşamāşramana.
After recording the names of Mahavira's eleven immediate disciples, called ganadharas, the Sthaviravali reports that these together propagated nine ganas, since four of the disciples formed two pairs for the purpose of propagating the dharma. Of these ninc ganas, the Sthaviravall further continues, only one was handed down in tradition. This was the guna initiated by Arya Sudharma. The spiritual lineage of Arya Sudharma is said to be continued by Jambu, Prabhava, Sayyambhava and Yasobhadra. Teachers after Yasobhadra are recorded in a list which the text calls the shorter list (sarikşipta vācani): this takes the gencalogy from Yasobhadra down to Vajra and his disciples. This list is followed by a longer list (vistyta wicani) which also begins the genealogy with Yaśobhadra but carries it down further to Phalgumitra. The longer list gives the names of the prominent disciples of each teacher. It also names various sākhas, kulas and gayas (branches or schools) initiated by different teachers. The Sthaviravall ends with a passage in which veneration is offered to a series of teachers from Phalgumitra to Devarddhi Kşamāśramapa.
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