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Ganadhara Metarya.
Ganadhara Métārya of malay Kaundinya gotra was the tenth Gañadbara of śramaņa Bhagavān Mabāvira. He was born at aeg961 Vaccbhapuri. His father was a Datta and his mother was quaat Varuņadevi He was a Brāhmin by caste. He was well-versed in the four Védas and the six suits Upāngas, Supplementary sciences. He had three hundred pupils who were receiving instruction in various branches of learniug under him.
Pandita Métārya had a doubt in his mind about que Para-bhavá, Next life. He held that the Soul existed as an aggregate of the five elements of which the body is composed and that the Soul disappeared with the dissolution of the elements of the body. How can there be any thing like atat Para loka, Next world, and gave Punar-bhaya, Re-birth?
When, however, Pandita Métārya approached śramaņa Bhagavān Malāvira with the object of removing his doubt, he · was addressed thus
अथ परभवसन्दिग्धं मेतार्य नाम पण्डितप्रवरम् । ऊचे विभुर्यथास्थं वेदार्थ किं न भावयसि ? ॥ १ ॥
1. Atha para bhava sandigdham Métāryam nâma paņdita pravaram; Uchè vibhu r-yathāst ham Vèdārtham kim na bhāvayasi?
1. The Lord (śramaņa Bhagavân Mahavira ) told the excellent learned man, named Métārya, who had a doubt about
TH9 Parabhava, Next life " Why do you not trace out the exact meaning of the verses of the Vedas ?