Jain Legend Vol 3

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

Page 201

Bha
raka V ra Sena, c rya Gu a Bhadra also gave exemplary services for the cause of Jain literature and preaching Jainism throughout his life.
After the death of his teacher, c rya Jina Sena, he completed the remaining part of 'Mah pur a' started by his teacher.
Gu a Bhadra was the disciple of Da aratha Sena who in turn was the disciple of V ra Sena. Da aratha Sena and Jina Sena (composer of Jayadhaval) were co disciples of V ra Sena. In citation of verse 14 of 'Uttarapur a', Loka Sena had written that his teacher Gu a Bhadra was the disciple of both Da aratha Sena and Jina Sena. This shows that Gu a Bhadra was initiated by monk Da aratha and he got all his education of scriptures and training from c rya Jina Sena who in turn was the brother of Da aratha muni (who initiated him into monkhood).
After the death of Jina Sena, c rya Gu a Bhadra composed 1620 verses of the last sections (from 43 to 47) of dipur a' and thus completed the earlier part dipur a' of 'Mah pur a'.
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After this, c rya Gu a Bhadra started composing 'Uttarapur a'. c rya Gu a Bhadra completed 8000 verses of 'Uttarapur a'. However from citation's verse 27 it seems that he died before completing 'Uttarapur a'. Therefore the last verses from 28 to 37 of citation were completed by his disciple Loka Sena in aka 820 (Vikram 955) in
Bamk pura.
c rya Jina Sena wanted to give 'Mah pur a' the same stature as Mah bharata having the detailed history of 24 T rthamkara s. The first part dipur a' of Mah pur a was composed in the way Jina Sena desired but the later part of 'Mah pur a' could not be completed as per his vision. This fact had been accepted by Gu a Bhadra himself.
Throwing light on the reasons for his not being able to complete dipur a' as composed earlier by Jina Sena, in the citation of 'Uttarapur a', Gu a Bhadra made the following comments.
'Facing the ill effects of time and his own continuous degradation coupled with the text being extremely large, and keeping his own health age and intellect in mind, Gu a Bhadra in a hurry and brevity completed this pur a.'
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