Jain Journal 2005 10

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

Page 23

JAIN JOURN
:LOL XL NO. 2 OCTOBER 2005
As regards the Niryuktis Hermann Jacobi states "The author of the Niryuktis, Bhadrabāhu is identified by the Jainas with the patriarch of that name who died 170 A.V. There can be no doubt that they are mistaken."" He further, states, “There are ten Sūtras, to which Bhadrabāhu, a late name sake of the sixth patriarch, has written Niryuktis....."
Bhadrabāhu is universally believed to be the author of the Kalpasūtra. The section Il of this celebrated book is entitled Therāvali, which according to Jacobi, is the oldest list of the Patriarchs belonging to the Svetāmbara community. This list “begins with Mahāvīra's disciple Sudharman and ends with the 33rd patriarch Sandilya or Skandila. Of most particulars only the names and gotras are given, but there is also an expanded list from the 6th Bhadrabāhu down to the 14th Vajrasena, which adds more details". As the Therāvali or the list of the patriarchs goes far beyond Bhadrabāhu, Prof. Winternitz comments, “it Therāvali) could not possibly have been written by him (Bhadrabāhu)".
Like the Svetāmbaras, the Digambaras have their own pattāvali or the genealogical list. But the Digambara line of patriarchs is quite different from that of the Svetāmbaras except that they agree in the names of the last Kevalin Jambūsvāmi and the last srutakevalin Bhadrabāhu. As stated by R.P. Chanda, "A comparision of these two lists (Svetāmbara and Digambara) makes it clear that the Bhadrabāhus of two lists are not identical.' The scene of action of the srutakevalin Bhadrabāhu of the Svetāmbaras was Pātaliputra and he is said to have retired to Nepal, whereas the scence of action of the śrutakevalin Bhadrabahu of the Digambaras was Ujjaini and he is said to have retired to the South.
7.
Parisistaparvan ed by Hermann Jacobi, Introduction, p. VIII The Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, Vol. VII, p. 465-67 A History of Indian Leterature, Winternitz. p. 445. R.P. Chanda, The Svethambara and the Digambara Image of Jainas.
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