Jain Presence In Nepal

Author(s): Ernest Bender
Publisher: Ernest Bender

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tā yayuh sthūlabhadro 'pi vācanārthamagādgurum 1110111
na dadau vācanām tasyāyogyo' sityādisadguguh
Ikşādināt prabhrtyeşo pyaparādhānvyacintay at 1110211 cintayitvā ca na hyāgan smarāmIti jagāda ca !
krt vā na manyase sāntam pāpamityavada dguruh 1110311
"During the famine, dreadful like the night of annihilation at the end
of the world, to survive the Samgha went to the sea. At that time the sacred texts, neglected, were misremembered by the monks and from lack of practice, were about to be lost, even though they were studied by
the learned. When the famine was over the entire Samgha met at
Pāţaliputra and, assembling the fragments they recalled, collected
eleven Aņgas. Thinking to recover the twelfth Amga, the Drștivāda,
and knowing that the venerable Bhadrabānu (the sole repository of that
Amga ) was staying in Nepal, the Samgha sent two munis to call him (to
the Council). The two munis went there and bowing reverently
addressed him, "The Samgha sends for you," He replied, "I have begun
the Mahāprāna-meditation which will take twelve years to complete.
When I have completed the Mahāprāņa, I will recount in a short time
all the Pūrvas and the meanings of the Sūtras."
The two munis went
off and repeated his reply to the Samgha.
The Samgha, once again,
sent two munis with instructions to ask him the punishment an Acārya
should incur who does not heed the bidding of the Samgha. If he says
1t should be exclusion from the Samgha, let him be told it is a fitting punishment. When this took place. Bhadrabānu said to the two minis, "Let the Noble Samgha not do so. However, let it do this. May
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