Jain Journal 2001 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 35

BRAHMESHANANDA: JAIN ĀCĀRYA STHŪLABHADRA
competent student than Sthulabhadra, a conqueror of lust and the desire for power and position; he was extremely intelligent, possessed of exceptionally sharp memory and infinite patience-he, indeed, was a veritable ocean of virtues. When such a high-born, steady, determined, dispassionate crestjewel of monasticism could be so careless and fall a prey to the pride of learning, what should one expect of less competent aspirants of the future? To impart knowledge to incompetent pupils is to insult knowledge itself. In any case, no purpose would be served even if the remaining knowledge was imparted. For, he foresaw that, with the passing away of Sthulabhadra, the generation of competent aspirants as well as ācāryas would come to an end, and that the sacred knowledge also would be lost.
This interesting and instructive episode, among other things, highlights the relation between the Acarya and the monastic Order. Initially the Order threatened to excommunicate the Head, the Acārya himself, on his own verdict. He was thus forced to impart knowledge to Sthulabhadra for the welfare of the Sangha. However, on the later occasion he did not yield to the Sangha. This shows that the Sangha appoints Acārya for its own welfare, and in him the strength of the Sangha is centralized. Both the Sangha and Acārya act in unison.
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Sthulabhadra was the head, the Yuga Pradhana of the Jain community, for forty five years and died at the age of ninety nine years in the year 252 B.C. He was the last of the Śruta-kevalin, i.e. the knower of all the scriptures. It was during this period that Bhadrabahu with his followers migrated to South India, to escape the perils of the devastating twelve year long famine. The Jain community thus got divided into two branches, the Digambara sect in the south, headed by Bhadrabahu, and the Svetambara sect in the north with
Sthulabahdra as the leader.
Conclusion
Every religious Order is invigorated and advanced by a succession of saints and sages. Jainism is no exception. However, the lives of its ancient saints are shrouded in mystery and very little factual details are available. Although a number of books have been written on Acarya Sthulabhadra, biographical material is scarce. Interestingly, the little information available, faithfully portrays the triumphs and failures of this extraordinary saint. Here was a young man, who had fallen into the abysmal depths of sensuality and infatuation, but who raised himself to the dizzy heights of absolute self-control and conquest of lust. And yet such a patient and valiant warrior against the inner foes