Jaina Religion Historical Journey of Evolution

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 73

History of Nirgrantha tradition 59
towards south India via Bengal and Orissa. A document of Godāsagaṇa is also found in the South. Thus, it seems proper to believe that the Acelaka Nirgrantha tradition of south developed from Bhadrabahu's tradition.
According to Svetambaras at the time of Pāṭalīputra vācanā Bhadrabahu was in Nepal, whereas according to Digambaras Bhadrabahu proceeded southwards after having ordained Candragupta Maurya into the Order. It is possible that he went to the South in the last stage of his life. The Nirgrantha tradition of North India went ahead with the disciples of Sthūlibhadra. Except Godāsagaṇa and its four branches described in the Kalpasūtra all other ganas, families and branches are related to the tradition of Sthulibhadra's disciples and then their disciples and so on. Thus, the Acelaka Nirgrantha-samgha of south followed from Bhadrabahu and the Sacela Nirgrantha tradition of the North developed and continued from Sthūlibhadra. In this samgha Uttara Balissahagaṇa, Uddhehgaṇa, Kotikagaṇa, Caraṇagaṇa, Mānavagaṇa, Vesavāḍiyagaṇa, Uḍḍavāḍiyagana etc. are the main ganas. These ganas had many branches and sub-branches. The sthavirāvalī of Kalpasūtra mentions all of them but in its last part it mentions only one tradition of ācāryas of Vajri branch belonging to Kotika-gana These