Jain Journal 2005 10

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

Page 24

CUTIARAJAN PALJAINISMIN BENGAL
Prof. Winternitz states that the Digambara tells us that there were two Bhadrabāhus, the first of whom died 165 years after the Nirvaana of Mahāvīra (i.e. 365 B.C.) and the second 515 years after the Nirvāņa (i.e. 12 B.C.)"
On this question Dr. P.C. Bagchi has stated that the Digambara tradition speaks of a second Bhadrabāhu in the first century B.C. and this second Bhadrabāhu may be the author of the Niryuktis.!!
It is also to be noted that two Samhitās named after Bhadrabāhu have come down to us - one on astronomy and the other on the right of succession. The book on astronomy is popularly known as the Bhadrabāhabi Sahitā and the other works dealing with the law of succession is ordinarily known as Bhadrabāhu Samhitā. These two Samhitās have brought before us the probelen of the existence of another Bhadrabāhu or the 3rd Bhadrabāhu. On this question Jacobi states, “If a recent Svetāmbara tradition makes him (Bhadrabāhu), a brother of Varāhamihira, it refers to the author of Bhadrabāhu Samhitā a work on astronomy which is later than Varāhamihira. It is yet an entirely different Bhadrabälu who wrote the Bhadrabāhu Samhita work of the right of succession (J. L. Jaini has translated in English the book, as Jaina Law.)
It is better not to discuss further the question, “who is who" as the issue has already been confused by contradictory evidence which is not helpful to come to any definite conclusion. Like V.A. Smith, Dr. Raychowdhury and other historians we may accept the late Digambara tradition that Bhadrabāhu, the 6the patriarch of the Jainas, preceptor of King Chandragupta Maurya led an exodus of thousands of Nirgrantha monks to Karnātaka on the advent of a dire famine in Magadha.
With the passage of time, the stature of this great scholar monk grew higher and higher and legend after legend began to grow round
10. 11. 12.
Winternitz - A History of Indian Literature. Vol. II, p. 457. A Comprehensive History of India. p. 662. Winternitz - A History of Indian Literature. Vol. II, p. 457, p.n. 3