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Varahamihira and Bhadrabahu
came famous as Varahmihira in allusion to the favour of the Sun god (Mihira), was patronised by King Nanda and composed a treatise on astrology named Vārāhi Samhita. Once when a son was born to him, he closely examined the moment and from his intimate personal knowledge of the planets profesied a hundred year life for the newborn babe. All but his couterine younger brother, the Jaina teacher Bhadrabähu, came to him with presents and participated in the festivities marking the occasion. Varaha complained to the Jaina minister Sakaṭāla about it. On being told about it, Bhadrabahu said that he had not attended the function as according to his culculation the child would meet death from a cat on the 20th day. And notwithstanding all the efforts to prevent the calamity the prediction came out true and the child expired in the night as an iron chain bearing an engraved figure of a cat fell on his head. Varahamihira was utterly despaired and was about to consign all the books to fire when Bhadrabahu came to console him and prevented him from doing so. But being envious of Bhadrabahu, Varahamihira took recourse to black magic and troubled some and caused the death of some others of his (Bhadrabahu's) lay followers whereupon Bhadrabahu composed a new hymn (stotra) called Uvasagga-hara Pasa with the object of averting these disturbances.
The same episode, with some minor differences and elaboration of details, is related by Rajasekharasûri in his Prabandha-kośa, also known as Caturvinsati-Prabandha. It may be summarised as follows:"
Two, poor but intelligent Brähmaņa boys named Bhadrabahu and Varaha lived at Pratisthanapura in Dakṣinäpatha. Once the Jaina patriarch Yasobhadra, who knew the fourteen Purväs, came over there. Bhadrabahu and Varaha heard his sermon and became Jaina monks. Bhadrabahu acquired the knowledge of the fourteen Pürvãs and possessed thirty-six qualities. He attained great fame as the composer of the niryuktis (commentaries) on the ten canonical works, to wit.
Dasava ikalika-sutra, Uttaradhyayana-stra, Dasaśrutaskandha, Kalpa-sutra, Vyavahara-sutra, Avasyaka-sutra, Süryaprajñapti, Sutrakrtänga, Acaranga-sutra and Rsi-bhäst, and also composed a work called Bhadrabdhavi Samhita. After the passing away of Yaśobhadrasüri, both Bhadrabahu and Sambhütivijaya, who also possessed knowledge of the fourteen Parvas, lived affectionately and wandered independently. Varaha, who too was a scholar, wanted his brother Bhadrabahu to confer on him the status of suri. Bhadrabahu declined the request as Varaha, though learned, was puffed up with pride. Thereupon Varaha gave up the vow and again lived the life of a Brahmana. On the basis of his study of the sciences when he was a Jaina monk he composed a number of new works including the Vārāha-samhitā and circulated the rumour of his acquisition of the knowledge of astrology by the favour of the Sun god as nar
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