Acharya Haribhadra Suri

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

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GANADHARS AND ACHARYAS
1 Ächärya Haribhadra-suri
During the sixth century A.D., there lived a learned Brahmin named Haribhadra. He was highly intelligent and proficient in the philosophy of all religions. Among his many talents was the ability to determine the point of his opponent's argument very fast. During that time it was common for scholars to travel and engage others in debate to increase their wealth of knowledge. Therefore, Haribhadra traveled and met many brilliant scholars. He engaged them in debate and succeeded in defeating them all. Other scholars found it difficult to win any discussion with him since his talent allowed him to dominate all conversations. It was not long before he earned a reputation as a formidable opponent. Predictably, scholars avoided entering into a discussion with him.
When no one came forward to counter him, he concluded that he had no rival in the entire country. He felt confident of his ability to comprehend anything that anyone would like to discuss. He therefore issued a public challenge that if any one could present a topic that he could not understand he would readily become his/her pupil.
One day as he was walking through the village he came across a royal elephant. The elephant was very angry and completely out of control. His keeper was trying his best to bring him under control but the elephant was not responding to his efforts. The elephant was running directly towards Haribhadra and he was in grave danger of being trampled. Haribhadra had to find shelter quickly. He frantically looked around for a safe place and saw a Jain temple. He rushed towards it and entered just in time to avoid being crushed by the charging elephant. He paused inside to regain his breath and then looked around the temple in disrespect. Haribhadra had no regard for Jainism. Because of his prejudice he remained ignorant of Jain philosophy. Brahmins were usually staunch Shaiväites (followers of Lord Shiva in Hinduism) and looked down upon those going to Jain temples.
As he entered the temple he saw the white marble idol of Lord Mahävir facing him. Instead of seeing the graceful compassion flowing from the eyes of the Tirthankar's idol, Haribhadra only noticed that the stomach of the idol did not epitomize the slim body of an austere saint. He surmised that Jain Tirthankars must have enjoyed sweet foods. He therefore made the following remarks:
"Vapurevatavächashte Spashtam Mishtänn-Bhojitämit"
"Your stomach clearly indicates that you must enjoy eating sweet foods"
When the elephant left the area, Haribhadra stepped outside the temple. On his way back, he passed the Upäshray of Jain nuns (Sädhvis). He heard the following verse that was recited by a Sadhvi named Yäkini Mahattara:
Chakkidugam Haripanagam Panagam Chakki Ya Kesavo Chakki
Kesav Chakki Kesav Du Chakki Kesi Ya Chakki Ya
Mahattarä was explaining the order in which the Chakravartis sovereign emperors) and Väsudevs were born in the current Avasarpini time cycle. Jain philosophy believes in time cycles of very long durations occurring one after another. One half of a cycle is called Utsarpini, or the ascending order marked with
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