Jinamanjari 1998 09 No 18

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 62

Indrabhuti Guatama, Lohārya and Jambu were all scripture proficient. The three became omniscient and attained mokşa. Afterwards Vişnu, Nandimitra, Aparājita, Gobardhana and Bhadrabāhu became five precanon proficients. They were followed by eleven pontiffs who were proficient in eleven primary texts and ten pre-canonical texts along with partial proficiency in the remaining four pre-canonical texts. They were - Visakhācārya, Prosthila, Kșatriya, Jayācārya, Nagācārya, Siddhārthadeva, Dhrtisena, Vijayācārya, Baddhila, Gangadeva and Dharmasena. As time passed there followed five pontiffs - proficient in eleven primary texts and part proficient in fourteen pre-canonical texts. They were - Nakşatra, Jayapāla, Pāndusvāmi, Dhuruvasena and Kansācārya. Later came four pontiffs who were proficient in whole of the primary (first) book on Monastic Conduct (Acārānga) and partially proficient in the remaining primary and pre-canonical texts. They were Subdhara, Yaśobhadra, Yaśobāhu and Lohārya.
This partial knowledge of the scriptures coming down in the tradition was received by Ācārya Dharasena, who was living in the Candra cave of the Girinagara (Girnar, Gujrat) in the Saurastra country. Realizing the possible the loss of scriptures in a later time, he dcided to transmit the same to other competent sages. At that situation there was a gathering of the southern Jain monks for some religious celebration in the city of Mahima - present Mahimangarh in Satāra district of Mahārastra. To this assembly Ācārya Dharasena sent a letter which stated his thoughts regarding the scripture. In response, the assembly dispatched two monks, who went to Girinagara through the path on the banks of the Veņā River. In the meanwhile, Ācārya Dharasena had a dream that occured in the later part of the night. In the dream two white bulls appeared offering bowings to him. As if the dream has come true, the monks from the assembly at Mahima appeared in the morning. They were ushered two days of rest after which they presented themselves to Acārya Dharasena: “Great Acārya, here we are for the specific purpose we were sent."
In orde to test the genunity and competence of the two disciples before commencing teaching of the scripture, Dharasena gave each one a incantation, one with extra letters and the other with less number. The two monks, being proficient in the science of incantations, found the defects in the number of letters in the incantations and corrected. Satisfied with the accomplishments of the disciples, the Ācārya commenced the teaching of the scriptures to them, and finaly it was completed in the forenoon of the eleventh day of the month of Aşadha
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