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174
The Jaina Stupa at Mathura: Art & Icons
350
The 24th Tīrthankara Mahāvīra was belonged to Kāśyapa gotra and had eleven Ganadharas. The names of these with the detail of their Gotras
and the number of disciples are1. Indrabhuti ascetic
Gautama Gotra 500 disciples 2. Agnibhuti 3. Vāyubhuti 4. Āryavyakta Sthavira (Sadhu) Bhārdvāja Gotra 500 disciples 5. Ārya Sudharmā Sthavira
Agnivaiśyāyana Gotra 500 6. Mandika Putra
Vāsiştha 7. Maurya Putra
Kāśyapa
350 8. Akampita
Gautama
" 300 9. Acalabhratā
Haritayana " 300 10. Medarya
Kaundinya
300 11.Prabhāsa
300 All eleven Ganadharas of Mahāvīra had complete knowledge of 14 Purvas as well as 12 Angas and imparted the same to the groups of Sadhus/Sramanas. Among eleven Ganadharas, ganas/units were nine because the numbers of Sramaņas learning scriptures of four classes were less; so two classes of students were combined giving 9 ganas for 11 ganadhars. Besides, before going for Anasana, every ganadhara used to submit his gana to Sudharmāsvāmi who was blessed with longevity. Therefore we call today's Jaina's ascetic tradition is in continuation of Sudharmāsvāmi. Tīrthankara Mahāvīra's descendent order till Yaśobhdra is as follows
Bhagawān Mahāvīra
Kāśyapa Gotra. Arya Sudharma svami Agniveśyāyana Gotra Ārya Jambusvāmi
Kāśyapa gotra Ārya Prabhava svami Kātyāyana gotra Ārya Sayambhava
Vatsa gotra Ārya Yaśobhadra
Tungiyāyana Sagotra Ārya Yaíobhadra had two disciples- Sambhutivijaya of Māthara gotra and Bhadrabāhu of Pracina gotra. Till the time of Bhadrabāhu, new Šramaņas were joining the Jina congregation order on anybody's advice, they were called the disciples of chief leader (pattadhara). In the period of Bhadrabahu's disciple Ārya Godasa too, the number of
