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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too sent him to the monastery. Jinavallabha had very sharp grasping power from childhood itself. He started studying with great dedication. Within a short period of time, he was considered as one of the best students of monastery.
c rya Jine vara S ri perceived that the boy was intelligent and virtuous by birth and that he would obviously become an impressive crya in future. Deliberating on these lines, he convinced Jinavallabha's mother and made him his disciple. He initiated Jinavallabha into his tradition and taught him many subjects like science of omens and so on. Thus monk Jinavallabha attained erudition in many subjects.
One day Jine vara Sri had to go to another village on a very important assignment. He handed over the responsibility of the matha to Jinavallabha.
The second day after his guru's departure to other village, Jinavallabha took out a bundle of books from a box. He took out a scripture from the bundle and started reading it. He was perplexed reading the words of sages in the book. He suddenly uttered these words, “Today, the conduct of our yatis is exactly contrary to that described in these scriptures. Such type of perverted code of conduct does not elevate us; instead it leads us to the netherworld - to our destruction”. He indecisively took some determinations and kept the book and the bundle back in its original place. Just then Jine vara S ri returned to the monastery and felt happy seeing the monastery running smooth and efficient. He decided to appoint Jinavallabha as crya perceiving him as a worthy monk. "Jinavallabha acquired profound knowledge in all the subjects except in the doctrines. So I think it is essential to send him to Abhayadeva S ri to gain expertise in scriptural knowledge. When he returns from Abhayadeva S ri mastering the scriptures I will make him c rya”. Contemplating thus, he appointed him as discourse- c rya. Consequently he sent Jinavallabha to Abhayadeva S ri, who stayed in A ahillapura Pa a a to learn the scriptures. The c rya also gave him 500 gold coins and sent a disciple named Jina ekhara along with him to serve him. Jinavallabha with his companion set out for A ahillapura Pa a a. On the way, he halted in the house of a lay devotee called M u in Maruko a for the night. The next day they renewed their journey and eventually reached A ahillapura Pa a a and presented themselves in the service of
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