Compendium of Jainism

Author(s): T K Tukol, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Prasaranga Karnatak University Dharwar

Page 60

CHAPTER 111
AFTER MAHAVIRA AND THE SCHISM
It is immensely difficult to be the torchbearer of a great Master. Mention has already been made that Indrabhūti Gautama was initiated into the Order of Sravanas along with his two brothers and that Gautama became the first Gañadhara or the Apostle. Of the eleven ganadharas or apostles, Indrabhūti and Sudharma were the only persons to survive their Master. Mahāvira was the head of an excellent community of 14000 monks: 36000 nuns, 159000 niale lav-votaries and 31 800 female lay-votaries. I Indrabhūti attained liberation 12 years after his Master had attained Nirvāņa. Sudharma followed him eight years later. Jambūsvāmi was the disciple of of Sudharman and he attained Nirvana 64 years after the Nirvana of Mahavira.
Bhadrabāhu and Silabhadra were contemporaries in the sixth generation after Sudharman had attained liberation. It is natural that there should be differences between the groups of followers about the tenets preached by the Tirthankara. Even during the life time of Mahāvira, Makkbali Gośāla and Jamāli had differences with their Master and broke away from him. The former started his own sect of Ājivikas while the letter founded a sect known as Bahurata.
It appears from the Buddhistic literature that there used to be quarrels amongst the monks who were followers of Mahāvira. From the accounts given in the Dighanikāya, it appears that the quarrels relate to the correctness or superiority of knowledge