Gautam the Ambrosia Man Diwakar Chitrakatha 032

Author(s): Nityanandsuri, Chidanandmuni, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Mahavir Seva Trust Mumbai

Page 2

(GAUTAM: THE AMBROSIA - MAN)
Ganadhar Indrabhuti Gautam has the same position of importance in Jain tradition that Ganesh, the eliminator of hurdles, has in the Vedic tradition. The name of Ganadhar Gautam is chanted as an auspicious mantra. He is idolized as the eliminator of hurdles and the bestower of wisdom. Hundreds of thousand devotees chant his pious name reciting the following couplet
“The embodiment of powers, he has ambrosia in his thumb. To make all wishes come true recite— Shri Guru Gautam. The devotees also believe that just the name of Gautam makes their stocks everlasting.
Ganadhar Indrabhuti Gautam was the first and the principal disciple of Bhagavan Mahavir. Initially he was a renowned scholar of the Vedas and Vedangas. Later he became a disciple of Bhagavan Mahavir and absorbed all the knowledge of the 14 Purvas (the subtle canons). Although an unparalleled scholar, Ganadhar Gautam was a humble, inquisitive, self dependent, and strictly austere person. He was an explorer of truth, a profound meditator, and a discipliner of sense organs.
He was born in a prosperous Brahmin family in 607 B. C. in Gobbar village near Rajagriha and Nalanda. He had two brothers and all three of them were great scholars. At the age of 50 years, along with his 500 disciples, he got initiated by Bhagavan Mahavir and became an ascetic. Immediately after initiation he got the position of Ganadhar in Bhagavan Mahavir's order. He accompanied Bhagavan's order. He accompanied Bhagavan Mahavir for 30 years. He became omniscient the day after the nirvana of Bhagavan Mahavir. He got liberated in the 12th year after Bhagavan Mahavir's nirvana (A.N.M.).
The scholarly acharya Shri Vijaya Nityanand Surishvar ji M. has done a great service by presenting inspiring incidents from the life of Ganadhar Indrabhuti Gautam in the form of this picture story. We are indebted to him.
Author:
Editor : Acharya Shrimad Vijaya Nityanand Suri. ji Muni Shri Chidanand Vijaya ji Compilation : Managing Editors :
English Translation: Srichand Surana "Saras" Dr. Mansukhbhai Jain, Sanjay Surana Surendra Bothara
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