Shraman Bhagvana Mahavira Part 3

Author(s): Ratnaprabhvijay, D P Thaker
Publisher: Parimal Publication

Page 7

vñda, Ganadharas, Nihnavas, Nehndva-vada, Sésa Upodghāla. Nir. orekti and a svādhyāya Nivyukti Of these, Ganadhara vāda and Nihnavavāda are the most important of all, because they discuss both positively and negatively, several philosophical topis that are vitally connected with the Jaina Āgamas. Commentaries.
There commentaries are said to have been written on the text of Viseşõvaszaka Bhāsya. The author hiinself is said to have written a commentary on his own work, but unfortunately, his commentary is not available at present. The second commentary has been written by Kotyācārya ( or silankacarga ) the manuscript of which dated 1135 V S. is preserved in a latterad -ondition in the Bhāņdārkara Research ditute, Poona. This commentary has not been published as yet. The only commentary that has been published and popularly accepted at present, is that of Maladhāri Ilemaandı ācārya.
Maladhāri Hemacangrārāra is different from Kali-Kala Sarxajna Hémcandrācārgia, the welknowu author of Kvyâs'raja. Originally, he was welknown as Pandit Suelānbarācārya Bhattāraka, But his worldly name was Pradyumna and in the prime of his youth, it is said, he was a minister. By the advice of Sri Abhayadeva Śūri he renounced the worldly life and having left his four wives, he entered the ascetic life. Seddharāja Jayasinha, the great monarch of Gujarat, of the twelfth century V. S., was highly impressed by his great personality and wide-sperad well-versedness. (c) Ganadharas--their names, lineage etc.
śramana Bhagavāna Makāvîra had eleven gañadharas in all. All except Indrabhūtt Gautama and Sudharma Swimî had attained Nirvāṇ: or Final Emancipation during the life-time of their celebraied preceptor. Indrabhath Guntama and Sudharmā Şwāmî had attained moksa at Rājagrihā, after the Nirvāṇa of Sramaņa Bhagavāna Mahävira.
All ganadharas belonged to the high-born families. Being directly under the guidance of śromaņa Bhagavāna Mahavira they became wide-read professors and knew all the twelve Angas along with fourteen Pūrras,
The Table attached herewith supplies all information about the eleven ganadharas.