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Ganadharas of Mahāvīra
Soon after the attainment of kaivalya Mahāvīra visited Păvă and held religious discourse in the garden of one Mahãsena. In the same garden a Brāhmaṇa named Somila had made arrangement for a yagya and invited learned Brāhmaṇas. Eleven of them came to Mahāvīra with a desire to have religious discussion with him. They were influenced by the personality and spiritual attainments of Mahāvīra so, much so, that they decided to join him as his disciples. Incidentally, the first disciples of Mahāvīra turned to be his principal disciples known as Gaņadharas. They became well-versed in the twelve angas and fourteen pūrvas. Details about them are:
Name
Caste
Gotra
Residence
Indrabhūti
Brāhmana
Agnibhūti
Brāhmana
Vãyubhuti
Brāhmana
Brāhmana
Vyakta Sudharman
Gautama Gobbaragrāma Gautama Gobbaragrãma Gautama Gobbaragrãma Bhăradvāja Kottaga Sannivesa Agniveśyāyana Kottaga Sannivesa Vašista Mauriya Sannivesa Kāsyapa Mauriya Sannivesa
Brāhmana
Mandita
Brāhmana
Moriyaputra
Brāhmaṇa
