Jainism For Beginners Level 02

Author(s): Sayampurnashreeji
Publisher: Sayampurnashreeji

Page 90

GANDHARS ACHARYAS ►
82
Then it was Sudharma's turn. Sudharma believed that every living being would reincarnate into its own species. In other words, human beings would be reborn only as human beings. His theory was based on the analogy of plant life. An apple tree, for instance, would produce the seeds from which only other apple trees could grow. Bhagwan Mahavir welcomed him too. He calmly & patiently explained to Sudharma that human beings could be reincarnated as humans or heavenly beings or even as animals depending upon their Karma. He addressed all of Sudharma's doubts & explained to him the theory of Karma.
Sudharma saw the wisdom of Bhagwan Mahavir's words & was convinced with the explanation & he too became a disciple of Bhagwan Mahavir. As a Ganadhar of Bhagwan Mahavir, he came to be known Sudharma-Swami. Sudharma brought with him his 500 disciples.
He was then followed by the remaining 6 Brahmin scholars. All eleven pandits became the Ganadhars of Bhagwan Mahavir, Dejected & abandoned, Somil cancelled the sacrificial-ceremony & set all the animals free.
This happened when Lord Mahavir was forty-two years old & had just attained omniscience. Lord Mahavir lived for another thirty years. During that period he continued to travel to different parts
of the country in order to spread the message of compassion & explain the path of liberation. During those discourses, Sudharma-Swami always sat in front of him & carefully listened to what Bhagwan Mahavir had to say. This enabled him to compose Bhagwan Mahavir's teachings in the form of Jain scriptures known as Agams.
After Lord Mahavir's Nirvana in 527 BC, the leadership of the Jain order was left to Sudharma-Swami. During the next twelve years that he remained at the helm, he efficiently managed the Jain order set up by Bhagwan Mahavir & spread his message far & wide.
Shwetambar tradition believes that during the period of his stewardship, Sudharma Swami organized Lord Mahavir's teachings into twelve scriptures, known as the twelve Anga Agams. These original scriptures (Agams), are collectively known as Dvadashangi. Dvadasha means twelve,and Anga means limb (part). Many are composed in the form of questions asked by Jambu Swami (SudharmaSwami's disciple) given by SudharmaSwami indicating Lord Mahavir's reply. Sudharma-Swami attained Omniscience in 515 BC & attained Nirvana in 507 BC at the age of 100. After attaining omniscience, the religious order was entrusted to his principal disciple-Jambu Swami.