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Nandi Sootra
waited for them. When his sisters came and stood rooted at the spot with fear he regained his natural form. The sisters were astonished and filled with pride at this display of divine power by their brother.
Arya Bhadrabahu came to know of all these happenings. The display of miracles without some dire need is considered laxness in the ascetic conduct. The guru got annoyed with Sthulabhadra and stopped any further teaching of the Agams. After Sthulabhadra sincerely sought his forgiveness and beseeched him to continue the lessons Sthulabhadra was given just the text of the remaining four Purvas and not the meaning. The Chaturdash Purvadhar lineage ended here. Sthulabhadra was the first Dash Purvadhar (knower of the ten Purvas). He was completely devoted to the tasks of organizing the religious order and compiling the canonical knowledge. Sthulabhadra died in the year 215 A.N.M. (254 B.V., 311 B.C.).
[025]MEANING - pay homage to Mahagiri of the Elapatya gotra and Suhasti, and then to Ballissaha of the Kaushik gotra who was equal in age to Bahul.
COMMENTARY -The lineage of Dash Purvadhar starting with Acharya Sthulabhadra continued for about two hundred fifty years. It comprised of a galaxy of exemplary and great scholars each of whom became famous as Yuga-pradhan (leader of the era) because of his towering personality and telling influence.
Arya Mahagiri - The estimated period of the birth of Arya Mahagiri of Elapatya gotra is 145 A.N.M. (324 B.V., 381 B.C.). No information is available about his parents. The only mention about his early age is that he spent his childhood with Arya Yaksha. At the age of thirty years he was initiated by Acharya Sthulabhadra in the year 175 A.N.M. (284 WV. 341 B.C.). For about forty years he studied under his guru and acquired all the available scriptural knowledge to become a Dash Purvadhar.
After the death of Arya Sthulabhadra he became the Head of the Order in the year 215 A.N.M. It is believed that Acharya Sthulabhadra promoted both him and Arya Suhasti to the position of Acharya but the Head of the Order was Arya Mahagiri. After imparting the scriptural knowledge to his colleague Arya Suhasti, and the disciples, Arya Mahagiri commenced his special spiritual practices. However, he moved along with the group. He was a strict follower and supporter of purity of
citated in advicino Ara Shastrithe conduct and never hesitated in advising Arya Suhasti if he saw any laxness. He died in the year 245 A.N.M. (224 B.V., 281 B.C.). According to historical chronology he was contemporary of both Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and his son Bindusar.
Arya Suhasti - The estimated period of the birth of Arya Suhasti of Vashishta gotra is 191 A.N.M. (278 B.V., 335 B.C.). As in the case of Arya Mahagiri, no information is available about his parents. The only mention about his early age is that he spent his childhood with Arya Yaksha. There is a difference of opinion about the period of his initiation. However, the probable date should be somewhere between 214-215 A.N.M. (312-311 B.C.). Thus it appears that he must have acquired the scriptural knowledge from Arya Sthulabhadra as well as Arya Mahagiri.
As he was made an Acharya along with Arya Suhasti, who commenced his higher practices, he must have taken over the responsibility of managing the Sangh. His independent management of the Sangh started in the year 245 A.N.M. (224 B.V., 281 B.C.) when Arya Mahagiri died. It was during his reign over the religious organization that Bindusar died and Ashoka became the emperor. After the long reign of Ashoka, his grandson Samprati became the emperor.
Aagam- 44 - Nandi Sootra
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Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
