Anandrushi Abhinandan Granth

Author(s): Vijaymuni Shastri, Devendramuni
Publisher: Maharashtra Sthanakwasi Jain Sangh Puna

Page 808

Varahamihira and Bhadrabahu 57
after the passing away of the last Jaina Tirthankara may be conveniently referred to as Bhadrabahu I. As he lived prior to the division of the Jaina church between the Svetämbara and Digambara sects, he was honoured by the followers of both the sects and is consequently mentioned in the literary traditions of both of them. As the later teachers of this name belonged only to one or the other of the two main sects, they are referred to in the literary works emanating only from the followers of the concerned sect. Thus, the Digambara Pattavalls belonging to the Nandi-sangha and the Sarasvatigaccha mention two Bhadrabahus, first of whom was the last śruta-kevalin and is said to have been the disciple of the fourth śruta-kevalin, Govardhana, and expired 162 years after Mahavira's nirvana.25 The second Bhadrabahu is spoken of as having flourished 492 years after the death of Mahavira, that is, in V. S. 22 or 35 B. C., and is described as the pupil of Yasobhadra. His pontifficate is said to have covered twenty-three years, i.e., 35-12 B. C. The pattavali of the Nandi Amnaya of the Sarasvati-gaccha begins with him. It must be pointed out in this connection that the famous Digambara author Kundakunda describes himself in his Chappahuda (Sat-prabhrta) as a pupil of Bhadrabahu, who is generally identified with the second teacher of this name known to the Digambara tradition. There is, however, a serious difficulty in accepting this identification. This Bhadrabahu is spoken of as well-versed in the twelve Angas and fourteen Purvas," a description applicable only to the first Bhadrabahu. It is also noteworthy that Kundakunda refers to Bhadrabahu as gamayaguru (gamaka-guru) or traditional teacher, and not as ordinary teacher. Kundakunda had, thus, nothing to do with Bhadrabähu 11.
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As shown above, a late Svetambara tradition recorded by authors of fourteenth and subsequent centuries of the Christian era mentions a certain Bhadrabahu who is spoken of as a brother and rival of astronomer-astrologer Varâhamihira. Although he is represented as caturdasa-purvin, his alleged contemporaneity with Varahamihira, whose flourishing period is know from his own works, seems to point to the existence of yet another Bhadrabahu who lived in the sixth century A.D. We may call him Bhadrabâhu III. This Bhadrabahu is credited with the authorship of a number of works including niryaktis on ten works of the Jaina canon, an astrological treatise entitled Bhadrabahavi Samhita and a stotra consisting a five verses called Uvasagga-hara Pasa. It is pertinent to note here that a much earlier unanimous Svetambara tradition recorded in the niryuktis", bhasyas and the curnis" of the Jaina canon attributes the authorship of the Cheda-sütras " to the caturadasa-purva-dhara Bhadrabahu.
A critical analysis of the above data would reveal that from fairly early times some confusion prevailed about the personages bearing the name Bhadrabahu and the activities of one Bhadrabahu were often attributed to another bearer of this name. Thus, while both the Digambara and Svetämbara tradi
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A
נוגע
आयाय प्रवरुप अगर द- आअनिन्दा अन्य श्री
अन्थ