Jain Journal 2006 07

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

Page 31

121
32
Sahu Todar, a rich Jaina householder (probably an assistant in revenue department of Akbar), organised a vigorous restoration of the ruined Jaina temples in and around Mathura and convoked an assembly of Jaina devotees and monks at Chaurasia. The ethusiasm thus created, it is said, paved the way for the writing of Jambūsvāmi's biography - one in Sanskrit by Rajamalla in 1632 V.S. (=1574 A.D.) and the other in Brajabhāṣā or in the dialect of Mathura and Vindāvana by Jainadasa in 1642 V.S. (=1584 A.D).2+
JAIN JOURNAL VOL-XLI. NO. 1 JULY. 2006
It will not be out of place to mention here that to the Buddhists, number 84 or Chaurasi is a sacred and magical number. They had a belief in the existence of 84 thousand 'mahāmunis. Asoka is said to have set up 84 thousand stupas all over his empire. The Tantrayana Buddhists spoke of 84 Siddhācāryas, popularly known as Chaurast Siddhai.25 To the Vaisnavas, Chaurasia is also very sacred. They, even now, undertake a tour of 84 Yojana's or 'krosa's around Mathura to earn religious merit by visiting the religious spots associated with Krisna legends. It is also to be noted that an area of Chaurasi or 84 Yojanas around Mathura is called Vraja mandala which is very sacred to the Vaisnavas even now.
On the basis of discussions made above, it is to be concluded that the tradition of Jambusvāmï's association with Chaurasia is a mid-sixteenth century invention. On the contrary, Jambūsvāmī's association with Kottapur seems to be of older origin. In the Brhatkathā Koşa (931 A.D.) Hariṣeņa Sūri had made a hint to that direction. Regarding Bhadrabahu's first acquaintance with Govardhanācārya, Harişena stated that on his return from pilgrimage to Kottapura, Govardhanācārya, the fourth Śrutakevalin, found Bhadrabahu at play with other playmates and took him to his disciplehood.
Ratnanandi (15th century A.D.) in his celebrated Bhadrabahucarita, spoke of Bhadrabahu's first acquaintance with Govardhanācārya more or less in the same way.
25.
H. P. Sastri, Bauddha Gan o Dohā.