Book Title: Jain Legend Vol 2
Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana
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Rjamala mentioned 'Prabhava' as Jamb Sw m 's disciple in his 'Jamb Caritam’. It is also mentioned in this text that few days after the nirva of Jamb Sw m, due to be Dev lament by the demons, Vidyuccara and the dacoit prince Prabhava and his 500 companions who were initiated into the monastic life, died and became deities. Apart from this no information is available about Prabhava in two texts.
Of rya Prabhava and rya Vi u (also known as Nandi) who became the c rya of Dharma congregation, after c rya Jamb Sw m is a delicate, significant and knotty issue. Both Digambara and vet mbara sects agree about chronology of pontiffs after the nirya of Mah v ra up to Jamb Sw m. Controversy about whether Indrabh ti Gautama was the first successor or not is not of much significant as the difference of opinion among the authors is trifling. If Digambara sect opines that Indrabh ti Gautama was the first successor, the vet mbaras going a step further, bestow upon him a much higher esteem and position. However, the difference of opinion between the both groups sparks about the question of the successor of Jamb Sw m. The controversy starts from naming different c ryas like Vi u (also known as Nandi), Nandimitra, - Apar jita and crya Govardhana so on and so forth. In the end, both the schools unanimously agree that rutakeval Bhadrab huc rya was the last 14 - Prvadhara c rya. The controversy between both the camps, once again continues after c rya Bhadrab hu and no further consensus is found. With the passage of time, both the schools have expressed somewhat closer opinion regarding the period of rya Mamk u, the Guru of Yati Vabha and that of N gahasti.
Considering the difference of opinion about the name of the successor after c rya Jamb Sw m , many scholars are of the view that the seeds of separation of Jainism into Digambara and vet mbara might have sown because of this issue. However, both the camps straight away deny this hypothesis. In spite of the difference in the names of c ryas after Jamb Sw m, neither of the schools is willing to accept that, the bifurcation of the Dharma congregation of Lord Mah v ra took place after the nirv a of Jamb Sw m.
In light of the above mentioned facts, it is clear that to bring out an amicable clarification is not an easy task. Lot of research has to be done
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