Jain Legend Vol 4

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

Page 46

"When Abhayadeva Sri stayed in a Vasati called Karadiha in A ahillapura Pa a a, Dro c rya, the chief c rya of Temple dweller tradition used to deliver analytical comments on Amga stras. All the
c ryas with their Kapalikas present in Pa a a would go to listen to the commentary. Even Abhayadeva S ri used to go there. Dro c rya always made him sit on a seat near him. While commenting on the s tras whenever Dro c rya had any doubt regarding the meaning of any topic, he would explain it in such a low tone that nobody could hear him. Noticing this, the next day Abhayadeva S ri reached the place with the V ttis written by him for the S tras that were to be explained on that day. Giving them to Dro crya he requested him to read those V ttis and contemplate on them before elucidating the Stras. Reading some parts of that V tti, the Temple dweller crya was astounded and and wondered, “Has this v tti been written by the ga adharas or by Abhayadeva S ri himself?” This created immense respect in his heart towards Abhayadeva S ri. On the next day, seeing the arrival of Abhayadeva S ri, Dro crya got up from his seat and welcomed him. Seeing the honour extended to a c rya of Suvihita tradition by a senior
c rya of their tradition, the agitated Temple dweller c ryas left the venue and returned to their respective vasatis. After reaching their monasteries they conveyed the following message to Dro c rya: “In what way is he greater than us? What is that special trait that demands our chief c rya to show such type of respect towards him? What will happen to us if such honour and respect is shown to cryas of other traditions?” The moment the connoisseur and scholar Dro crya came to know about the enraged Temple dweller c ryas' mutual consultation and message, he wrote a verse, made many copies of it and sent one copy each to all the c ryas in various monasteries. The meaning of the verse is as follows: Verily there are such c ryas in all holy places like monasteries, lodgings, etc. whose unblemished conduct sanctified the world and whose glory cannot be assessed even by an extraordinary person. Nevertheless please bring to my notice if there is any scholarly
c rya in this era that can stand in par with Abhayadeva Sri even in a single attribute.”
Reading this verse, all the Temple dweller c ryas were extremely embarrassed and completely appeased. Dro c rya, as usual continued his sermons of commenting on the amga stras on the basis of v ttis written by Abhayadeva S ri.
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