Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 176

knowledge of the last four P rvas to rya Sth labhadra only in their original text without elaborating either their meaning or interpretation.
In V.N. 170 (357 BC) after c rya Bhadrab hu's accession to heaven,
rya Sth labhadra became the eighth pontiff.
Both the vet mbara and Digambara traditions agree that c rya Bhadrab hu was the last Caturda a P rvadhara and ruta - Keval crya of Lord Mah v ra's tradition.
Wandering many places and uplifting the laymen, c rya Sth labhadra one day arrived at Sravasti. There he made Dhandeva, his childhood friend, an ardent believer and follower of the true religion and showed him the right way to obliterate the cycle of transmigration.
After the completion of 44 years as Pontiff, c rya Sth labhadra, the third heretic, known as “Avyaktav d' originated from amongst the disciples of dh c rya in 214 V.N. in the city of wet mbika. (Its short description is given at pages 415 to 417 in part II of the nonabridged edition of Jain Dharama K Moulika Itih sa).
rya Sth labhadra was a householder for 30 years. Between V.N. 170 & 215, as the Pontiff c rya of the congregation served the Jain order. Finally, at the age of 99, he acceded to heaven in 215 V.N. in Vaibh ragir near the city of R jag ha after fasting for 15 days.
From the point of view of Indian History, the era of rya Sth labhadra may be regarded as the political era of dynastic-transition and political upheaval. The Greek invasion against India, the rising of the great political philosopher C akya, the decline of the Nandas and the rise of Maurya Dynasty were the significant political events of his era.
Sikandara (Alexender the great) invades India
During Sth labhadra's pontifical period (from 170-215 VNY), approximately 200 V.Y (327BC) the Greek Emperor Alexander with a huge army invaded the north-western frontier of India. At that time, there were many small kingdoms in the north-western frontier and many republic states of different clans in Punjab. Dhanananda, the ninth Nanda
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