Jain Journal 2007 01

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

Page 21

JAMBŪSVĀMI IN THE ĀGAMAS
Chitta Ranjan Pal
Jambūsvāmī the second patriarch of the Nirgranthas (Jainas), is traditionally believed to have received the Āgamas from his preceptor, Sudharman, the fifth Gañadhara and the first patriarch of the Nirgranthas (Jainas) who in his turn obtained the sermons directly from Sramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvīra himself.
A perusal of the Āgamas makes it evident that Sudharmasvāmi had, on many occasions, expounded the doctrine and explained the sermons of Lord Mahāvīra to his foremost disciple Jambūsvāmī on being questioned and sometimes without being asked by the latter.
The Ācārānga Sūtra, one of the oldest Āgamas, beings with this introduction.
“O long-lived Jambūsvāmi 1 (Sudharman) have heard the following discourse from the venerablc (Mahāvīra)":
“Here many do not remember whether they have descended in an eastern direction (when they were born in this world), or in a southern, or in a Western, or in a northern direction or in the direction from above, or in the direction from below, or in a direction intermediate (between the cardinal points) or in a direction intermediate between these (and the cardinal).
The “First lecture” named “The Doctrine” in the first book and first chapter of the Sūtrakrtāñga, the second book of the Agamas, begins as follows:
“One should know what causes the bondage of soul and knowing (it) one should remove it.
(Jambūsvāmin) asked Sudharman :