Jain Journal 2005 10

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

Page 21

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JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XL. NO.2 OCTOBER. 2005
lost) composed by Gunadhya in Paisaci language where from Harişena had drawn the outlines of one or two of his narratives. He was also well-conversant with the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. But what is more important for us to note is the one hundred thirty first chapter, entitled "Bhadrabāhu Kathānaka” of Harişena's book. In this chapter, our author has disclosed the fact that Bhadrabahu, the last Śrutakevalin was born at Kottapura, then known as Devakotta in the country of Pundravardhana. In addition to this important piece of information, Hariṣeṇasuri focussed a flood of light on the multifaced genius and the missionary activities of this great pontiff of the Nirghanthas (Jainas).
There is no denying the fact that Bhadrabahu is the greatest among the patriarchs who headed the Church of the Nirghanthas (Jainas) after the demise of Sudharmasvāmi, disciple of Mahāvīra.
Bhadrabāhu was a great scholar, having memoriter kowledge of all the canons of the Jainas. He was also a proselytizing genius who is said to have converted emperor Chadragupta Maurya to the religion of the Tirthankaras.
Bhadrabahu's pontificate is also remarkable for a chain of events which shaped the destiny of the Nirghanthas (Jainas). During his pontificate, at the advent of a dire famine in the country, he led a migration of twelve thousand monks along with his royal disciple Chadragupta Maurya to Karnataka and this exodus paved the way for the expansion of the religion of the Nirgranthas to south India. At the same time it must not be forgotten that this exodus was one of the causes which accentuated the differences between the emigres (monks returned from the South) and the home-keeping brethren and in course of time the organisation of the Nirgranthas was bifurcated into two irreconcilable sects - - Svetambaras and the Digambaras.
This migration to the South was also the starting point of the gradual losses of the memoriter knowledge of the sciptures of the Nirghantas which continued for several centuries till the convocation of the Valabhi Council, held either in the middle of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century A.D.