Jain Legend Vol 2

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

Page 188

V.N. itself. In such a situation, initiation of Suhast by rya Sth labhadra in V.N. 221 does not seem to be logical or true. Hence it appears that
rya Suhast was initiated at the age of 23 and probably by a slip-up of some scribe, the figure 30 got documented instead of 23. If we accept that Suhast was initiated at the age of 23, then, that he got initiated by
c rya Sth labhadra (214 - 250 V.N.) himself, seems logical.
Life as rama a
These two great men spent 14 and 31 years of their life respectively as ordinary Jain saints. During this period they performed severe penance, flawlessly observed self-restraint and served Sthavira rama as with great reverence. Besides, they, with persistent practice and complete concentration acquired knowledge. Both of them are scholars in the ten P rvas except for two topics.
Post of c rya
In the year 215 V.N. at the time of his departure for heaven, c rya Sth labhadra appointed both his worthy students - rya Mah giri and
rya Suhast as his successors, the eighth pontiff.
rya Suhast after taking initiation from c rya Sth labhadra barely completed his study of Ek da mg that crya Sth labhadra went to heaven. So rya Suhast studied the Prva ruta s under rya Mah giri. According to the Pari i ta Parva Kra, rya Suhast himself said addressing rya Mah giri - “Mamaite guravah Khalu" - "he is my Guru”. If this fact is taken into consideration, it does not corroborate the statement that in V.N. 215, the novice monk, rya Suhast , was given the post of c rya along with rya Mah giri by c rya Sth labhadra.
A scrutiny of the facts makes it highly probable that while nominating
rya Mah giri as his successor, c rya Sth labhadra with his special knowledge might have perceived that rya Suhast would be the most eligible and efficient monk for running the congregation in future and so might have instructed rya Mah giri to appoint him as c rya at the proper time.
188