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THE TIRTHANKARAS AND LORD MAHAVIRA
Gapadharas (Apostles)
Before closing this topic, reference must be made to the Gaṇadharas who interpreted the principles of Bhagavan Mahavira after he had started preaching his gospel on attaining omniscience. The first scholar to do this work was Indrabhūti Gautama. He was a Brahmin well-versed in Vedic-lore. He entertained some doubts about the interpretation of some metaphysical principles. On hearing of the Omniscient Lord, he went to him to know what was meant by the six dravyas, the five astikāyas and the seven principles etc. He was fully satisfied with the interpretation of those principles by the Tirthankara. Mahavira preached what life was, what the meaning of Karma was and how Karma was responsible for different births and rebirths. Indrabhuti felt enlightened and became a convert along with his five hundred disciples to the religion of Śramaņa. After this, the two brothers of Indrabhuti, viz., Agnibūti and Vayubhuti, were also erudite scholars of Vedic faith and they too had their doubts clarified.
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Besides these three brothers, there were eight other Brahmin and Kṣatriya scholars who were similarly attracted by the preachings of Mahavira and they too became converts to his faith along with their disciples. They are: Sudharma, Mauryaputra, Maundrya, Putra, Maitreya, Akampana, Acelaka and Prabhava.
Of these Gaṇadharas, Indrabhūti Gautama was the wisest and possessed sound powers of exposition. He therefore, became the first Ganadhara who not only interpreted the sermons of Mahavira but also reduced them to writing.
The Great Teacher went about from place to place preaching to all people irrespective of caste and creed the principles of the five vows, of the path of salvation and of self-control and selfknowledge. Many great rulers of the time like Śreņika and Ajātaśatru of Magadha, Chetaka of Vaiśāli,
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