Jain Legend Vol 3

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

Page 203

Udyotana S ri thought that by anointing some able disciple as a, his gaccha can continue for a long time and service of Jainism can continue and the same can significantly prosper for a long time also. He thought that this is an auspicious time, so while sitting under the Va a tree, he immediately anointed his eight principal and scholar disciples including Sarvadeva S ri asc ryas. However some scholars are of the opinion that c rya Udyotana S ri anointed only Sarvadeva S ri as ac and not to seven other disciples. It seems that disciple of Sarvadeva S ri known as Sarvadeva S ri anointed his eight disciples out of whom one was known as Dhane wara S ri. Due to this similarity perhaps mention is made that Udyotana S ri anointed eight disciples including Sarvadeva S ri.'
According to writings in the chronological listings of c ryas of V hadgaccha (Bada gaccha), in Vikram 994, c rya Udyotana S ri anointed Sarvadeva S ri and other disciples as c ryas under the great Lokadiy Va a tree in el village. While anointing many of his disciples, he also assigned 300 disciples to each c rya. In the beginning this gaccha was called Va a gaccha. But Bada gaccha expanding like the giant Va a tree became a very powerful gaccha with many able monks joining it continuously. Therefore everybody started calling this gaccha with respect as V had gaccha.
We thus find origin of Bada gaccha byc rya Udyotana S ri and elsewhere by Sarvadeva S ri, but this does not make any difference. Actually crya Udyotana Sri is the founder of Bada gaccha and Sarvadeva Sri is its first crya. In other words it can be said that
c rya Udyotana S ri founded Bada gaccha and Sarvadeva S ri made it expand and become powerful.
After Sarvadeva S ri, Deva S ri became the 37th pontiff. After Deva S ri, the 38th pontiff was Sarvadeva S ri-II. This 38th pontiff during his tenure Sarvadeva S ri-II anointed his eight disciples as c ryas and gave each one of them a group of monks. In this way during the tenure of 38" pontiff Sarvadeva S ri-II, Bada gaccha had eight c ryas and it became a very big gacch becoming popular as Bada or V had gaccha.
Dhane wara S ri was one the eight principal disciples who were anointed as c ryas by Sarvadeva S ri-II
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