Jains Today in World

Author(s): Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 35

6 : JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD of November 2007 day of the new moon (amāvasyā) of the lunar month of “kārtika” (October-November) was the beginning of the Jain New Year (vīra nirvāṇa samvat) 2534.
Jainism made great strides with Mahāvīra. The number of its followers increased significantly as did the number of communities in India. The Kalpasūtra reports that, at his liberation, there were 159.000 lavmen, 318.000 laywomen, 36.000 nuns and 14.000 monks adepts of that religion. To cope with this growth, Mahāvīra created groups (gana) of monks headed by eleven chief-disciples called "Gañadhara”, all converted Brahmins of whom nine died before him. Candanā was given by Mahāvīra the charge of the group of nuns with the title of “Pravartini" (spiritual mother).
At Mahāvīra's death, the two remaining “Gañadhara"- Indrabhūti Gautama and Sudharmā successively- assumed the leadership of the community and preached the teachings of the Master. According to Jain tradition, the successor of Sudharmā, Arya Jambū, died sixty-four years after Mahāvīra. He was the ultimate omniscient (kevalin) being and the last person to attain liberation in this descending era in Bharatakşetra. The same source tells us that shortly after, the world entered the present era where conditions are so bad that it is impossible to attain perfect knowledge and liberation without having to be born again.
Some fifteen “Sthaviras” (Elders) managed the community after Sudharma's death. Their names are mentioned in the Kalpasūtra from Jambū to Arya Vajra. The great Jain Master Hemacandra (XICh- XIIch centuries) has reported their history in his Sthavirāvalīcaritra. ?
The primitive Jain tradition would have been recorded in 14 treatises called Pūrva, (earlier sacred books) and next resumed into 12 Anga (members), the twelve sacred books. The matter of the Pūrva would be included in the twelfth Anga, called Drstivāda and transmitted to pupils by heart, till Bhadrabāhu, by masters called