Samayik And Chaityavandan Vidhi

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 61

Once the king of that place got a son. Varahmihir prepared a horoscope of the prince that indicated that the prince would live for hundred years. Every one went to the court to compliment the royal family on that occasion. Bhadrabahuswami, however, could not go. Varahmihir seized that opportunity and poisoned the ears of the king by pointing out the absence of even that much formal courtesy on the part of Bhadrabahuswami. Thereupon the king conveyed his displeasure for the apparent discourtesy. Bhadrabahuswami sent the message that he did not compliment the king, because the newly born prince was not destined to survive long and was going to die on the seventh day by the impact of a cat.
The king was aware of the knowledgeability of the great ascetic and therefore took all precautionary measures to prevent such calamity. In particular, he took care to see that no cat comes within the precincts of the royal palace. On the seventh day, however, while the wet-nurse was suckling the prince with her back at the door, the wooden bolt of the door fell down upon the child and he instantly died. The royal family was thereby plunged in deep sorrow.
The king could now make out that Bhadrabahuswami was right in predicting the death of the prince. He was, however, curious that there was no impact of cat in the death, as was predicted by the great ascetic. Bhadrabahuswami therefore called for the bolt and pointed out that there was the picture of a cat on the bolt that struck the prince. The king then realized the accuracy of his knowledge and the futility of Varahmihir's claim. The astronomer was then subjected to insult and died of the distress resulting from the disgrace. His soul however remained wandering and as an evil ghost he caused plague and other epidemics in the city. In order to protect the citizens from that calamity, Bhadrabahuswami composed this Sutra and advised the people to recite it as a Mantra. As the people started reciting it, they could get free from the troubles.
The details of this story do not fit with the historical data. Bhadrabahuswami lived during the time of Chandragupta Maurya who came to the throne in 322 BCE. and abdicated around 300 BCE. Varahmihir, on the other hand, lived during late fifth or early sixth century CE. There is thus a gap of about 800 years between the two. Moreover, prior to his migration to Nepal or to South, as the case may be, Bhadrabahuswami mostly stayed in Magadh. The king of Magadh, before Chandragupta's taking over, was Dhannand, who was the last king of Nand dynasty. No incident about a prince dying of such accident is, however, recorded in the case of Dhannand or Chandragupta.
Bhadrabahuswami was a great scholar and is known as the author of many compositions. Ävashyak Sutra is one of his well known compositions. Another is Dashäshrutskandha and the well known Kalpasutra is a part of it. On account of his fame, many later authors have ascribed their works to his name. This might have happened in the case of the Uvasaggaharam Sutra as well. Apart from its origin, it is a good Sutra and has been helpful to many in getting relieved of their problems.
This Sutra is mostly prevalent among Shwetambar Murtipujak people. There is, however, nothing therein which would be repugnant to Sthanakwasi or Diagambar beliefs. It is a