Nav Smarana

Author(s): Vinod Kapashi
Publisher: Vinod Kapashi

Page 20

There are two schools of thought on who wrote the Uvasaggaharam Stotra. I will examine these both in detail. The first is that this smarana was composed by a Jain monk by the name of Ächärya Bhadrabähu Swämi
5.2
About the Author, Bhadrabähu Swämi.
5.2.1 Shvetämbara opinions considered.
According to the Shvetämbara Book of Chronology (Pattävali, hereafter referred to as the SBC) of Jain monks, Bhadrabähu Swämi was born 94 years after the nirvana of Mahävira and he died 170 years after Mahävira's death. (i.e. 4th Century B.C.E.) The SBC also narrates his story in which it is stated that Bhadrabahu was a brother of the famous astrologer Varähmihir. Bhadrabähu came in contact with an ächärya called Yashobhadra. Bhadrabähu mastered the books of logic, religion, grammar, astrology and other subjects. His brother Varähmihir too came in contact with the same ächärya Yashobhadra. Both brothers were influenced by Jain teachings and both were initiated into monkshood. However, Bhadrabähu was receiving more respect, and his prestige and fame increased rapidly. Varähmihir was very jealous of his brother and it is said that when he died he became a forest god (Vyantara) and began harassing the people in the town. It so happened that plague broke out in the town, allegedly caused by the forest god and people started dying. Some people of the Jain community came to Bhadrabahu and requested him to do something about this plague. Bhadrabähu knew the reasons behind it and he composed a stotra worshipping Pärshvanätha (23rd Tirthankara of Jains) and His attendant god. This stotra is the Uvasaggaharam Stotra. It is said in the SBC that the plague subsided on composition and recitation of this particular stotra.
According to this same SBC, Ächärya Bhadrabähu has also written scriptures like the Vyävahär Sootra, Dasäshrutskandha and Brihad Kalpa. He also wrote commentaries (niryuktis) on various scriptures, as well as composing this stotra2
However, there are two Bhadrabahus. There are many verses praising Bhadrabähu, as he was the ächärya of sixth generations of monks after Mahävira. Bhadrabähu is also considered to be the last Shrut-Kevali (the one who had the knowledge of all the scriptures including the scriptures called Purvas, which are now lost).
In a story of a king Priyankar, which was written by a monk called Jinsur-Soori, the writer mentions Bhadrabähu's names and refers to him as the writer of this stotra and says that the stotra was composed for the peace and welfare of the Jain community3
1 Devaschatur Nikayaha 4/1 Tattavarth Sutra. Also Vyantaraha Kinnar- Kimpurusha- MahoragaGandharva- Yaksha- Rakshas- Bhoot- Pisachaha 4/12. Published by- as in 8
Vandami Bhaddabahum, Painam charimsayalsuyanani. Suttasa karagmisi dasasu kappe ya vavharo (Dasa Shruta Skandha Churni- Quoted by M Desai In Jain Sahityano Sankshipta Itihasa. Published by Jain S. Conference, Bombay 1933.
Uvasargaharastotram, krutam Shri Bhadrabahuna, Gnanãdityen Sanghasya, Shantye mangalaycha Page 19 Uvassagaharam Mahayantra Poojan Vidhi. Published by Shri Aadinath Marudeva Viramată Amrut Jain Pedhi, Navagam, India Year not mentioned. The book has been written by a monk Virshekhar Vijayji
20