________________
245
rising high and higher. He saw that all his much-desired wishes were being accomplished. His meditation went on becoming purer without the least faltering, and on death, he was born as a déva (god ) in Nalini-gulma Vimăna.
Next day, when Bhadrā Mātā and all the wives of Avanti sukumāla went to Guru Mahārāja for darśana and vandana (respectful salutation ), the Guru Mahārāja told them to go to Kanthéri Vana. When all of them went to Kantheri Vana and made a search, they saw only bones coloured red deeply with fresh blood, scattered here and there. On seeing the bones tinged with blood of her only son, Bhadrā Mātā fainted on the spot. When Bhadrā Mātā and all the wives of Avanti-sukumäla again went to Guru Mahārāja and knew the true state of affairs, all of them made up their mind to renounce the world, Bhadrā Mātā and thirty-one wives of Avantusukumála, except the one who was pregnant, took Bhāgayatı Diksā at the hands of Ācārya Mahārāja Arya Su-hasti Sūri. The remaining wife of Avanti-sukumāla, gave brith to a male child, who later on had a beautiful franata Jina-prāsāda-( a Temple of a Jaina Tirthankāra ) named Mahākāla built on that spot, in memory of the death of his father there.
Dasa-pūrvi Ācārya Śrîmān Arya Mahāgiri went to svarga déva loka) after anasana ( remaining without food and drink materials in Mahāvira Samrat 245. He had eight chief disciples; out of these, Sthavira Bahula and Sthavira Balissaha were prominent. From sthavira Balissaha, started 3ur affer Tres the Uttara-balissaha Gaccha.
Umāsvātı Vācaka Mahārāja-the author of 500 works including Tattvārtha Sūtra etc was the chief disciple of Sthavíra Balıssaha.
Syāmācārya-The author of Prajnāpanā Sūtra was the disciple of śrīmān Umāsvāti Vācaka Mahārāja.
Sriman Syāmācārya was a contemporary of Ācārya Sum pratibaddha Sūri.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
