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NandiSootra
his father, Shayyambhav did not reveal his identity but gave an impressive religious discourse. Child Manak became an ascetic at the age of eight years. Through his knowledge of astrology, it was revealed on Shayyambhav that the child had a very short life span. This inspired him to create the Dashavaikalika Sutra based on his knowledge of the canons. This work became very popular in the later Jain tradition. After remaining head of the order for twenty three years, Shayyambhav expired in the year 98 A.N.M. (371 B.V., 428 B.C.) when he was sixty two years old. During his times the state of Magadh was ruled by the Nand family.
[024] MEANING -I pay homage to Arya Yashobhadra of the Tungik gotra, Arya Sambhooti Vijay of the Madhar gotra, Acharya Bhadrabahu of the Prachin gotra and Acharya Sthoolibhadra of the Gautam gotra.
COMMENTARY- (Shrut-Kevali or Chaturdash Purvadhar Lineage)
In the lineage of the heads of the order after Bhagavan Mahavir there were two omniscients Arya Sudharma and Arya Jambu. With passage of time and increasing distance from the Tirthankar there was a constant depletion of knowledge and the possibilities of attaining omniscience ended. The post Jambu Swami Pattadhars did not become omniscients but they absorbed the complete knowledge contained in the words of the Tirthankar; in other words the twelve Angas including the fourteen Purvas. That is why they were popularly known as Shrut-kewalis or Chaturdash-purvadhars. This tradition continued upto Acharya Bhadrabahu.
Arya Yashobhadra He was born in a Brahman family belonging to Tungik gotra in the year 36 A.N.M. (433 B.V., 390 B.C.). He was among the top scholars of his time in the ritualistic Vedic tradition. Deeply influenced by the discourses of Arya Shayyambhav, he took Diksha when he was twenty two years old. Under the direction of his guru he absorbed all the knowledge of the canons for fourteen years. He succeeded Arya Shayyambhav as Head of the Order at the age of thirty six years.
After successfully managing the organization for fifty years he died in the year 148 A.N.M. (321 B.V., 378 B.C.). During his times the eighth Nand ruled over the state of Magadh. It is believed that he influenced the Nand rulers with his discourses. He brought about a revolutionary change in the Jain religious organization for the first time Yashobhadra promoted two of his disciples to the position of Acharya.
Arya Sambhooti Vijay -The senior disciple of Arya Yashobhadra, Arya Sambhooti Vijay belonged to a Brahman family of Madhar gotra. He became a Chaturdash Purvadhar (the knower of the fourteen Purvas or sublime canons) after learning all the scriptural knowledge from Arya Yashobhadra. The members of the family of famous historical figure Shaktal, the prime minister of Magadh state, were his followers. He died in the year 156 A.N.M. (313 B.V., 370 B.C.)
Arya Bhadrabahu The second disciple of Acharya Yashobhadra was Arya Bhadrabahu. He was born in a Brahman family of Prachin gotra in Pratishthanpur (Paithan) in the year 94 A.N.M. (375 B.V., 432 B.C.). Following his family tradition he studied numerous subjects but due to his profound liking for the tenets of Vitaragal (the Detached or the Tirthankar) he became an ascetic disciple of Acharya Yashobhadra in the year 139 A.N.M. He studied under his guru for seventeen long years to acquire all scriptural knowledge.
After the death of Arya Sambhooti Vijaya in the year 156 A.N.M. Arya Bhadrabahu became the Head of the Order. During Bhadrabahu's time there was a devastating twelve-year-drought. Collecting alms became difficult for shramans Aagam- 44 -NandiSootra ~11~ Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
