Jain Digest 2005 11

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 14

Bhagwan Mahavir's Early Great Disciples (527 BC - 252 BC)
Rajiv Jain East Brunswick, NJ
This article depicts the early monastic lineage from Lord Mahavira to Sthulabhadra. It describes the Ganadhara's contribution to maintaining and spreading Mahavira's message. The article is based on the historical account from Margaret Stevenson's book "The Heart of Jainism".
hagwan Mahavir became omniscient until he obtained Nirvana at Rajghiri in Bihar in at the age of 30 and preached Jainism 515 BC at the age of 92.
for the next 42 years before attaining Another great disciple of Bhagwan Mahavir moksha in 527 BC. Although establishing a fol- was Sudharma. Sudharma, like the other lowing of at least 500,000 Jains, Bhagwan Ganhadhara, stayed with Bhagwan Mahavir for Mahavir knew the importance of having heads of 30 years, learning and putting into memory every communities to carry the message forward after spoken word of Bhagwan. We are indebted to his death throughout India. Fortunately, he had Sudharma for the Jaina scriptures. Unlike Ganadharas - Great Disciples - each devoted to Gautam Indrabhutti who spread knowledge as a their master and possessing great wisdom and Kevali, Sudharma, having not attained Keval leadership, helping to carry Jainism forward Gyan, wrote into scripture the philosophy as he through the 4th and early 5th Kal Periods. heard it directly from Bhagwan Mahavir.
Bhagwan Mahavir's earliest disciple was Sudharma is said to have compiled the great 12 Gautama Indrabhutti. Although three slightly Angas (including the Purvas), 11 Upangas and differing accounts of how Gautama became other works. Of the 11 Ganhadhara of Bhagwan Bhagwan Mahavir's chief disciple have been Mahavir, only two - Gautam Indrabhutti and recorded, the common theme is basically the Sudharma - lived after Mahavir's moksha, the same. Gautama Indrabhutti was a great learned other Ganadharas attained moksha at Rajghiri Brahmin. One day, after hearing Bhagwan through Sanlekhana (voluntary starvation). It's Mahavir answer all his questions, he became con- important to point out that all Jain monks today vinced of the true path and become Bhagwan are considered the direct descendents of Mahavir's chief disciple. He not only converted Sudharama since the other Ganadharas left no himself, but all his brothers - each becoming a disciples. Ganadhara.
Sudharma obtained Keval Gyan and was also All four sects, Shvetambar, Digambar, the head of the Jain community for 12 years after Stanakvasi, and Terapanthi believe that Gautam Indrabhutti, until he passed on leaderGautama's intense attachment to Bhagwan ship to another great Ascetic -- Jambu Swami. Mahavir prevented him from attaining Keval Jambu Swami was a disciple of Sudharma. Gyan. A very famous sermon is recorded in the He is said to be the last person to obtain Keval Uttradhyana Sutra called "The Leaf of the Tree" Gyan. The doors to both Keval Gyan and the in which Bhagwan Mahavir tries to help Gautam knowledge next below -- Manahprayana Gyan attain Keval Gyan by teaching him about attach- (ability to know what other's think) -- were ment. Bhagwan Mahavir warns Gautama that closed to all men, coinciding with the completion life must end at sometime, just as a leaf of a tree of the 4th Kala. must someday drop from a tree. Bhagwan Jambu Swami is referred to as the great preaches to jettison all attachment toward him "Celibate" supported by his vows of perpetual leading him to deliverance -- "You have crossed celibacy. Jambu Swami led the Jain community the great ocean, why do you halt so near the and attained moksha in 403 BC and was then shore? Make haste to get on the other side and succeeded by Prabhava. Since it was no longer reach that world of perfection where there is safe- possible for anyone to obtain Keval Gyan and ty and perfect happiness"
therefore released from the cycle of birth, it is said According to Kalpa Sutra, it was only after Prabhava was such a great saint that he would Bhagwan Mahavir's moksha in 527 BC that eventually obtain moksha after passing through a Gautama Indrabhutti severed the deep attach- number of rebirths. ment to his master and obtained the highest Prabhava felt there was no one among the knowledge - Keval Gyan. At this point, Gautam Jains to succeed him. Therefore, having been Indrabhutti became the main leader of the Jain impressed previously by a deeply spiritual community (Gautama's other brothers who were Brahmin named Sayambhava, he converted him also Ganhadhara became heads of Jain communi- and broke with tradition to name him head of the ties also). As a Kevali, he led the Jain community Jain community. Sayambhava is known for his for 12 years after Bhagwan Mahavir's moksha, book Dasavaikalika which is a treatise on the illuminating the world with prefect knowledge major tenets of Jainism. (continued on page 21)
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