Jain Legend Vol 4

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

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While returning from atrunjaya, on the way, Udyotana S ri rested under the p pala tree (Siddhava a) during night. In the middle of the night he noticed that in the sky, Jupiter (B haspati) was entering into Rohin constellation. He spoke aloud, "It is such an auspicious time now that the person on whose head I place my hand will earn name and fame in the entire world".
Listening to this statement the 83 disciples present there pleaded him, “O Noble Lord! You are our teacher and we are your students in quest of knowledge; hence please place your hand on our heads."
Udyotana S ri said, "Get me v sac r a (sandalwood powder)".
So the 83 students collected some dry twigs, powdered them and handed it over to Udyotana S ri, who consecrated it by chanting mantras and the powder on the heads of the 83 student-monks one after the other.
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In the morning, comprehending that he was left with only a few days, Udyotana Sri observed the path of pious death (Sam dhi) by undertaking fasting.
All the 83 student-disciples (of different traditions) became c ryas of their respective rama a groups. They wandered through different places and established 83 gacchas. By then Udyotana S ri had already made his disciple Varddham na S ri the c rya of his own gaccha. All these 84 gacchas gained popularity and became famous. Thus the 84 gacchas came into existence.
From the articles of Gurv val of Kharatara gaccha we can infer the fact that Udyotana S ri was an eminent scholar- c rya who preached and practiced pure code of conduct during the period when Temple dweller tradition was enjoying a predominant position and influence in the society.
From a number of records of Tap gaccha Pa val, the historical literature of Tap gaccha, it appears that c rya Vimala S ri, the 35th
c rya of Jain order appointed his pontiff disciple Sarvadeva S ri as the 36th c rya, 35th c rya Udyotana S ri, the guru of c rya Sarvadeva S ri and the founder of V had gaccha is different from c rya Udyotana S ri, the preceptor of Vardh mana S ri and founder of Kharatara gaccha.
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