Shraman Bhagvana Mahavira Part 4

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

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of sthaviras to refer the matter to Tirthankara Simandara Swāmi And it was done so through a goddess, who brought the verdict of the Tirthankara in favour of the Acarya, Goṣthā Māhila, who refused to accept even the authority of Tirthankara Bhagavan, was then declared as Seventh Nihnava, and was immediately expelled from the Gaccha. He remained as a Nihnava till the end of his life.
Botika is a peculiar type of Nihnavas which gave rise to the sect of Digambaras. Śivabhuti was the pioneer of that sect. Originally, he happened to be a Royal attendant in the city of Rathavirapura, He was very irregular in his habits. He used to come home after midnight. So, his wife was very much unhappy. Once when he came home late at night his mother rebuked him and did not allow him to enter the house. Śivabhuti left the home in pride and anger. He came near an Upāśraya where he found the Jaina Sadhus engrossed in their study at that late hour. Acarya Krisṇasuri was the head of the gaccha. Sivabbuti approached the ascetics and requested them to initiale him into asceticism. The ascetics refused to give him dikṣā at the first instance, but subsequently Śivabhuti got himself initiated into gaccha.
Once, when all the Sadhus were on Vihāra, Sivabhūti received a blanket as present from a king. Śivabhūti was so much fascinated towards the new blanket that he kept it with him in spite of the preceptor forbidding him to do so. Once, when Śiva bhuti was away, the preceptor took out his blanket, cut it into pieces and distributed the same amongst the sadhus. Šivabhuti's mind was greatly perturbed at this. He then heared the discourse of preceptor on Jinakalpika, and the apparel of a sadhu. Śivabhūti boasted to become Jinakalpika by complete renunciation. Accordingly, he gave up all his clothes and stayed in the garden without clothes. The Acarya and several other sthaviras tried to disuade him from giving up clothes by explaining the true spirit of nisparigraha in various ways. But out of vanity and passion, Śivabhūti did not listen to him. His sister also followed