Jain Legend Vol 3

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

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persuasion. Hari Bhadra thought, I had performed this heinous act due to my deep love for my disciples.' Thinking so, the supreme devotee of his guru, Hari Bhadra as per the directions of his guru, started to undertake severe austerities to rectify the sins committed. He performed severe penance and made his body very fragile. But the pain of his disciples kept on lingering in his mind. Worried by Hari Bhadra's condition, the ruling deity appeared, consoled Hari Bhadra and asked him to observe pure penance to make his life successful.
Hari Bhadra requested the ruling deity, 'O mother! I am not pained by the fact that two of my disciples died. But I am worried that my gurukula will die after my death.' Hearing the ruling deity said, 'Son! You have not earned the merit of progression of your clan. O great monk, you have just earned the merit to enhance the generation of scriptures by composing great religious texts.'
On hearing this, Hari Bhadra lost all pain and grief bothering him. He first composed 'Samar rka caritra' (samar icca kah ) considered as one of the greatest popular religious Jain text in the twelve centuries of history of Jain literature.
After composing 'Samar rka caritra' (samar icca kah ), he composed approximately 1500 appendices (prakara a) and he considered these jewel like texts as his offspring. Always remembering his affectionate disciples, he always ended his compositions with the remark 'bhava Var ha'.
Hari Bhadra was also a grateful person. The old S dhv , who through her verse 'cakkiduggam haripa agam' not only led him in search of true knowledge but to rama a monkhood as well, was always referred by him as religion-mother. To express his profound reverence to her, Hari Bhadra always ended his every composition with ‘bhava Var ha' before his name followed by ‘Y kin mahattr S nu' after his name.
More than 1500 compositions by Hari Bhadra himself were publicised all over the country by a trader named K rap sika. Elder K rap sika by observing verbatim the sayings of c rya Hari Bhadra acquired massive wealth as well. Like K rap sika, crya Hari Bhadra did great service to Jainism through other inquisitive and influential disciples /followers.
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