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NandiSootra
(Skandilackear 376 A.Possible feat Buddhis
as the Yuga-pradhan. Shyama Arya was the leading scholar of Dravyanuyoga (Jain metaphysics) of his time. He is believed to be kalakacharya the First, the elaborator of Nigod (the lowest or the dormant form of life). Hearing the praise of his knowledge from Simandhar Swami, Saudharmendra asked questions regarding Nigod from Shyamarya and was satisfied.
He was the author of Pannavana Sutra which is believed to be a unique compendium of knowledge of the fundamentals. The period of Shyamacharya is the historical period of antipathy for Jain religion. During this period of re-establishing of the ritual Yajna tradition and the torture of Jains and Buddhists by Pushyamitra Shung, Shyamacharya accomplished the impossible feat of imparting stability to the Shraman tradition. He died in the year 376 A.N.M. (93 B.V., 150 B.C.).
Arya Shandilya (Skandilacharya) - After the death of Shyamacharya in 376 A.N.M. Arya Shandilya became the Vachanacharya and Yuga-pradhanacharya. He was born in the year 306 A.N.M. and initiated in the year 328 A.N.M. (141 B.V., 198 B.C.). It is believed that he was honored with the title of Jeetdhar Arya because he wrote a scripture titled Jeet Maryada and was very particular about following the Jeet conduct. He was the founder of the Shandilya Gaccha which was later amalgamated with Chandra Gaccha. No more information about him is available. He died in the year 414 A.N.M. (54 B.V., 111 B.C.).
[027] MEANING -I pay homage to Arya Samudra whose fame had spread right up to the three seas and whose credibility was established even beyond many islands and seas (or who was a distinguished scholar of Dveep Sagar Prajnapti).
COMMENTARY-Arya Samudra - After Arya Shandilya Arya Samudra became the Vachanacharya in the year 414 A.N.M. He was a great and respected scholar and his field of special expertise was geography. No more information about him is available. The mention that his fame spread right up to the three seas indicates that he must have extensively toured all around India. According to the Kalakacharya Katha, Sagar Suri also toured in Suwarna Bhoomi Dveep (today known as - Java, Sumatra, Indonesia), He died in the year 454 A.N.M. (15 B.V., 72 B.C.). Vriddha Vadi, the guru of Acharya Siddhasen Divakar, was his disciple.
[028] MEANING - I pay homage to Arya Mangu, the embodiment of serenity who studied the Kalik Sutras (the scriptures that are studied or recited only at a prescribed time of the day) and followed the conduct defined in the scriptures, who indulged in spiritual and meditational practices and enhanced virtues of knowledge, perception and conduct, who had also swam across the sea of scriptures.
COMMENTARY - Arya Mangu - After the death of Arya Samudra in 454 A.N.M. Arya Mangu became the Vachanacharya. He was among one of the teachers of the Digambar Acharya Yati Vrishabh, the author of Kashaya Pahud. No further information about him is available. It is said that he was a contemporary of King Vikramaditya of Avanti.
[029] MEANING I pay homage to Arya Dharma and to Arya Bhadragupt and then to Arya Vajra who had become diamond-hard - (vajra-at) - through virtues like austerity and discipline.
COMMENTARY -Arya Mangu - After the death of Acharya Samudra in 454 A.N.M. Arya Mangu became the Vachanacharya. He was among one of the teachers of the Digambar Acharya Yati Vrishabh, the author of Kashaya Pahud. No further information about him is available. It is said that he was a contemporary of King Vikramaditya of Avanti. Aagam- 44 - Nandi Sootra
15 Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
