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GANADHAR SUDHARMÄ-SWAMI
He then started his own school, which became a center of great learning. Over 500 pupils from all over the country came to study under his tutelage. As a well-known Brahmin scholar, Sudharmä was invited to the same yajna conducted by Somil over which Indrabhuti was to preside. After Indrabhuti left to debate with Mahävir, his brothers and other eminent attendees left as well, one by one becoming Mahävir's disciples. Soon, it was Sudharma's turn. Sudharmä believed that every living being would reincarnate into its own species. In other words, human beings would be reborn only as human beings. His theory was based on the analogy of plant life. An apple tree produced seeds from which only other apple trees could grow, so living beings should only reincarnate into the same species. Bhagawan Mahävir welcomed him too and understood his thoughts. He calmly and patiently explained to Sudharmä that human beings could be reincarnated as humans or heavenly beings or even as animals depending upon their karma. He addressed all of Sudharma's doubts and explained to him the theory of karma. Sudharmä saw the wisdom of Bhagawan Mahävir's words and was convinced by the explanation, and he too became a disciple of Bhagawan Mahävir along with his five hundred disciples. As a ganadhar of Bhagawan Mahävir, he came to be known as Sudharmä-swämi. In the following years, Sudharma swami always sat in front of Mahävir during his discourses and carefully listened to everything Bhagawan Mahävir had to say. This enabled him to compose Mahävir's teachings in the form of Jain scriptures known as Agams. After Mahävir's nirvana in 527 BCE, the leadership of the Jain order was left to Sudharmä-swämi. During the next 12 years in which he remained at the helm, he efficiently managed the Jain order set up by Bhagawan Mahävir and spread his message far and wide. Shvetämbar tradition believes that during this period of his stewardship, Sudharmä-swämi organized Bhagawan Mahävir's teachings into 12 scriptures, known as the 12 Anga Agams. These original scriptures (Agams), are collectively known as Dwädshängi. Dwadasha means 12, and Anga means limb (part). Many of the Agams are composed in the form of questions asked by Jambuswämi (Sudharmä-swämi's disciple) and replies given by Sudharmä-swämi which are representative of Bhagawan Mahävir's words. Sudharma-swämi attained omniscience in 515 BCE and attained nirväna in 507 BCE at the age of 100. After attaining omniscience, the religious order was entrusted to his principal disciple, Jambuswämi.
Moral:
Jainism has deep roots and we practice it based on the scriptures that have been passed down for many generations. The scriptures known as Agams, compiled by the ganadhars, comprise of the preaching of Mahävir-swämi. We do not have the benefit of the presence of such great monks as Gautam-swami and Sudharma-swämi in this era, but we do have the benefit of learning those principles from the scriptures. Thus, we should take advantage of the scriptures that have been passed down through many generations.
07 - Questions: 1. Who became the leader of all the ascetics after Bhagawan Mahävir's nirväna? Why? 2. What happened under his stewardship?
JAIN STORY BOOK
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