Jain Legend Vol 4

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

Page 24

code of conduct of rama as, as it alone is capable of uplifting and elevating the soul.
Listening to his disciple's words, c rya Jinacandra rebelled against Temple dwellers tradition. He decided to lure him and to thus retain him in his tradition. Consequently Jinacandra remained dumbfound. He was apprehensive about this intellectual scholarly disciple, and so elevated Varddham na S ri immediately to the rank of c rya. But the allurement of possessing the highest post of c rya could not hold back Varddham na Sri from advancing on the path of truth. He expressed to his Guru in clear words that he renounced his family and the material world with a desire to uplift his soul. Hence to achieve his goal he would follow and practice the virtuous path as enunciated by Lord Mah v ra in the scriptures.
Thus after humbly appealing his Guru c rya Jinacandra, monk Vardh mana along with some other monks left the Temple dwellers tradition and started wandering in search of a pious guru who follows the tradition of scripture based Jain doctrines and pure code of conduct of
rama as, with a desire to take initiation from him. During his wanderings he came to know about Udyotana S ri, a monk of forest dweller tradition. He was informed that the c rya was a follower of the Jain doctrine of Lord Mah v ra in true letter and spirit and a scholar in the scriptures and that he was peregrinating around Delhi.
Varddham na Sri immediately headed for Delhi and approached c rya Udyotana S ri. After confiding in the c rya all about himself,
dham na Sri beseeched him to be initiated into the monkhood of five great vows.
Udyotana S ri considering Varddham na S ri as worthy and as one trying to rise above the transmigration cycle initiated him and his followers into rama a dharma. After his initiation ceremony, Varddham na monk studied the eleven amgas and scriptures with a lot of dedication. After imparting in-depth knowledge of scriptures, it is probable that Udyotana S ri might have conferred the ‘S rimantra' to Varddham na S ri. After rigorous practice of the Srimantra, he started making Herculean efforts to bring into light the original, unblemished form of Jain doctrine and the pure code of conduct of rama as, which had been completely distorted by the Temple dwellers tradition.
24