Jain Legend Vol 4

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

Page 71

Abhayadeva S ri. Just in a glance Abhayadeva S ri noticed the gracious personality of Jinavallabha with auspicious marks. Further with
Cūļāmaņi J na' he perceived that Jinavallabha was a righteous person. On being questioned the reason for their approach, Jinavallabha Sri with all humility said, “Revered crya Deva! My Guru Jine vara Sri sent me at your feet to study the scriptures.”
Looking at Jinavallabha S ri with deep insight, Abhayadeva Sri thought, “Though he is the disciple of Temple Dweller tradition c rya, yet he is a worthy ascetic. The scriptures clearly state that it is better for a scholar of scriptures to leave his body together with his expertise, without imparting it to anyone, but under no circumstance should he impart the knowledge to an unworthy being. However if a worthy being approaches in quest of scriptural knowledge, he should neither be refuted nor ignored." Thinking thus he said to Jinavallabha “You did a good thing by coming here to learn scriptures”. He started imparting knowledge of scriptures to his student at an auspicious time. During the study hour, Jinavallabha S ri used to listen to every letter, every word and every sentence pronounced by Abhayadeva S ri, with complete concentration, relishing its nectar like sweetness. This opened the inner eye of Jinavallabha S ri. Whenever he found time, be it day or at night Abhayadeva Sri explicated and educated his students. Thus within a short time, Abhayadeva S ri imparted him with the knowledge of all the S tras.
Earlier, a certain scholar in astrology had once requested Abhayadeva S ri to send an exceptional, intelligent and worthy disciple (of Abhayadeva S ri) to him to study astrology. Accordingly Abhayadeva S ri, on completion of scriptural studies, sent Jinavallabha to that astrologer to be taught astrology. The astrologer also made Jinavallabha proficient in astrology within a short time, and Jinavallabha returned to Abhayadeva S ri.
One day, receiving the consent of Abhayadeva S ri, Jinavallabha went to meet his Temple dwellers c rya, following the same route by which he came to Pa a a. On the way, he took a break in the Caitya of same lay devotee in Maruko a. He wrote reforms in that Devag ha, in such a way that even a non-reformed Caitya becomes a reform-Caitya. In those six points of reforms he recommended pure code of conduct for rama as
71