Book Title: Rushibhashit Sutra
Author(s): Vinaysagar, Sagarmal Jain, Kalanath Shastri, Dineshchandra Sharma
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
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fruits, water a plant. One, not wanting fruit does not water a plant. Only by fostering a plant fruit is available. If the plant is destroyed the fruit is automatically destroyed. As such he wants to convey that in order to get liberated from the worldly life, the fundamental cause of worldly life will have to be destroyed. Besides this, from philosophical angle Bhayali propagates that neither Sat (the existant reality) nor Asat (non-existant reality) has any cause. The Asat (non existant reality) does not enter the chain of cyclic rebirth.
Thus in his preachings we find that basic premise of Upanishad, Gita, and Sankhya, according to which it is believed that Sat is never destroyed and Asat never comes to existance. The same hypothesis has been stated in this chapter in a different way.
As regards the first name Metejja is concerned, the tenth Ganadhar (principle disciple) of Mahavir was also named Metejja. But in my opinion this was a different person. Besides this there is a mention of another Metejja Shraman who was living in Rajasthan and sacrificed himself adhering to the vow of Ahimsa. This person is also mentioned in Avashyak- Viryukti, 142 Visheshavashyak-Bhashya,143 Avashyak-churni, 144 Sıhanang, 145 and the Abhaya Dev Commentary of Sthanang: 146 Although this person and Metejja Bhayali of Rishibhashit appear to be the same person but in absence of any conclusive evidence nothing more can be said.
In Buddhist tradition mention is available about one Mettai Ther147 who was connected to a Brahman family of Magadh. On becoming adult he became a forest dwelling monk. Later he met Buddha, had a discussion and joined the Sangha (Monk organisation); he became Arhat in the end. Besides him is also available in Buddhist tradition a mention of Mettagu Ther, a disciple or Bavari. However, it is difficult to say if Vettai and Mattagu Ther had any connection with Metejja Bhayali.
Besides this, another mention of one Mettiya Ther is also available. This Mettiya Ther was also supposed to be the leader of the Chhabbagiya monks. Buddhist tradition also mentions
172 SAIHTS yang
