________________
174
INTRODUCTION
obeisance to the Sasvata Caityas or permanent images of the Tirthankaras there, and exercising another he fed 1500 ascetics from his single bowl full of Ksira (milk and rice preparation). Invocation of his name in the morning is believed even today to keep the devotee well fed, clad, provided for and free from want of every kind. The readers will learn in the next section that according to a set description all Gañadharas are said to be Mantrapradhāna and Vidyāpradhāna or prominent in Mantras and Vidyās and that not only Gautamaswāmi but Sudharmāswami and Kesikumāra Sramana a spiritual descendant (of:Śrī Pārsvanātha) also are expressly so described. Similarly many of the 'Therās' or old Sadhus are so described at p. 32 of Sri Aupapā tika Sūtra.
We have already mentioned how the sixth pontiff Sri Bhadrabāhu composed the Māntrika hymn 'Uvasaggaharam' *
The Achāryas who may be noted next are the ninth pontiffs, Sri Susthitasūri and Sri Supratibuddhasūri (291 to 372 of Vīra era). They gave to the Nirgrantha gaccha the name of the Koţika Gaccha, as they recited Sūrimantra a crore (Koti) times. Next Achārya in the main line was Indradinnasūri who died about 421 Vīra era. Priyagranthisūri was his co-pupil. In Pattāvali and commentaries on Sri Kalpasūtra an annecdote is related about him that he recited Mantra on Vása (scented powder)
* Muni Sri Punyavijayaji in his recent article in the Silver Jubilee issue of Sri Mahāvira Jaina Vidyalaya considers the hymn to be by a later Bhadrabāhu, of the Sixth century of the Vikrama era, probably a brother of the astrologer Varāhamihira. He has however not shown therein that the knowledge of Mantra or Nimitta was in any way inconsistent with the knowledge of 14 Pūrvas of the Srutakevali Bhadrabāhu, the sixth pontiff. We have shown above that Nimitta was a part of the ninth Pūrva and Vidyås and Mantras of the tenth Pūrva. Niśitha is admitted to be by the 1st Bhadrabāhu and was extracted by him from the ninth Pūrva which also comprised Nimitta. Nisītha itself refers in its 13th Uddeśa to Vidyas Mantra and Nimitta. Sthūlabhadra, the pupil of the 1st Bhadrabāhu, while studying the tenth Pūrva employed a Vidyā and assumed the form of a lion and was taken to task by his preceptor for such wanton employment of Vidya. This shows that the 1st Bhadrabāhu knew Nimitta, Mantras and Vidyās and there is nothing against his having composed the hymn 'Uvasaggaharam.'
Jain Education International 2010_03
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
