Nav Smarana

Author(s): Vinod Kapashi
Publisher: Vinod Kapashi

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The Digambara book of chronology names another Bhadrabähu who lived during 3512 B.C. There is no mention of the Uvasaggaharam Stotra in the Digambara chronology.
5.3
Observations:
Both the Shvetämbara and Digambara accounts are clear about one thing that there were two Bhadrabähus.
If the original Bhadrabähu had written this stotra then we have to consider the following points:
1. Was it composed to eradicate the epidemic of plague created by Varähmihir?
2. Did Jains believe in mantra power and using them for one's own benefit during that time?
3. Does the style or language of the stotra indicate that it was composed by Bhadrabähu the First?
(1) The SBC states that the stotra was composed to eradicate the plague created by Varähmihir. This account raises more questions. If Bhadrabähu and Varähmihir were brothers then we can also see when Varähmihir lived. An encyclopaedia (Jainendra Siddhänta Kosha) refers to Varähmihir's dates as the same as the starting period of the Hindu calendar, which is first Century BCE, whereas Bhadrabähu lived in the 4th Century BCE. This shows a gap of about 400 years between Bhadrabähu and Varähmihir. Not only that but the commentaries on the scriptures (Niryuktis), which have been written by 'Bhadrabähu', do mention some events, which took place after the death of Bhadrabähu himself.
This leads one to speculate that the stotra may not have been composed to eradicate the plague caused by Varähmihir. As Varähmihir, the famous astrologer did not exist during that time. It is possible, as other account suggests, that the stotra was composed for the peace and welfare of the Jains but if there was an epidemic of plague then that was not caused by Varähmihir- we know of.
(2) Usage of mantras: Bhadrabähu lived during the 4th Century BCE. It seems that Jain ideology was against using mantras for material benefits. The Jain religion is the religion for the upliftment and the liberation of the soul, nirvana. The Ägamic texts like the Ächäranga do not mention anything about the mantra and its usage. The Samväyänga Sootra mentions twenty-nine sinful activities, one of which is practice of the mantra (mantra-anuyoga)'. The Sthänäaga in verse No 678 mentions nine types of sinful sciences to be avoided, one of the nine is again the Mantra. The Dasvaikälika Sootra rejects the practice of using the mantra for any gainful purposes. This advice is for monks, but it clearly forbids monks using any such knowledge they may have.
Vikhanujoge, vijjanujoge, matanujoge, joganujoge.. (chapter 29 of Samvayang Sutra. Published by Prem JinAgamaa Prakashan samiti, Bombay 1980
2 (nakhkhatam Suminam Jogam Nimittam, Mantam, Bhesajam | Gihino tam na aaikho bhuyahigaranam payam || Dasavikalika Sutra Sutra 434. Published by Ramnagar Svetämbar Sangha, Sabarmati, Ahmedabad
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