Book Title: Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra
Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
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INTRODUCTION
Vácana. There was also a later Buddhist Tāntrika named Nāgārjuna, who flourished in the 7th century of the Christian era. Kaksapuţa and Ascaryayogaratnamālā ascribed to Nāgārjuna are claimed to be the works of the Buddhist Tantrika Nāgārjuna.
SRI YASOBHADRASŪRI We make some observations about Sri Yasobhadrasűri at this place as he is one of the five Mantrasiddhas mentioned above although he flourished so late as the 10th century of the Vikrama era.
Sri Yasobhadrasūri belonged to Sāndera Gaccha and was not therefore a member of Caityavāsi Gaccha. He was however very famous as a Mantravādi. He was the pupil of Sri Isvarasuri. He was born of Prāgvāt parents Sāpu (of Nārāyaṇa Gotra) and Guņi. His name was Sudharma. He lived with his parents at the Village of Palāsi in Rohai Khanda near Mt. Abu. As a child he took an inkpot of a Brahmin co-pupil and accidentally broke it while replacing it. The Brahmin student insisted upon the identical ink-pot being returned. The demand could not possibly be satisfied by Sudharma and the Brahmin student vowed that he would eat rice-meal in the skull of Sudharma. The latter retorted “If I am a true Bania I would kill you even if dead." The said Isvarasūri being in quest of a good pupil worshipped a deity named Badari who informed him that the said Sudharma was a fit pupil to be initiated and become his successor. Thereupon Isvarsūri came to Paläsi village and initiated the said Sudharma. Then they went to Mudāhada town and Achāryaship was there conferred on Sudharma, and at the time his name was changed to Yasobhadrasūri and Badaridevi promised to help him. Then they came to Pāli for stay during the monsoon when the Sun-god was pleased with Yasobhadrasūri and gave him a boon promising to fulfil all his desires. Isvarasūri died there during the monsoon and as soon as it was over Yasobhadrasūri with his co-pupil Balibhadrasūri went to Sandera and there in a new temple installed the idol of Sri Sreyāņsanātha in s.y. 969. In the same year as a result of Yośobhadra
