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Ācārya Bhadrabāhu (c. 367 – c. 298 BC) was a and scholar, traditionally regarded as the last , or the final ascetic to possess complete knowledge of the Jain scriptures. According to both sects of , he was the last Shrutakevali.

(1998). 9780192832276, Oxford University Press, Oxford World Classics.
(2025). 9788173043123, Manohar Publishers and Distributors.
He is widely known as the spiritual guru of Chandragupta Maurya.

According to the tradition, he was the spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the . According to the Digambara sect of Jainism, there were five Shruta Kevalins in Jainism – Govarddhana Mahamuni, Vishnu, Nandimitra, Aparajita and Bhadrabahu.

According to the Śvetāmbara tradition, he was the author of the holy Kalpa Sūtra, which describes the life of and other . It also lists down a (a succession list of the names of the head of the Jain monastic order according to Śvetāmbaras, starting with Mahavira's (disciple) ). Śvetāmbaras consider Bhadrabahusuri to be a Sthavirkalpi monk (as described in the Ācārāṅga Sūtra, the Kalpa Sūtra, and the ), and thus, white-clad. Śvetāmbaras also consider him to have had been a .


Early life
Bhadrabahu was born in (roughly equivalent to modern ) to a family (In Jain philosophy, a pratimādhārī shravaka—a layperson with vows—is considered a Brahman or Bamana) during which time the secondary capital of the was . When he was seven, Govarddhana Mahamuni predicted that he will be the last Shruta Kevali and took him along for his initial education. According to Śvētāmbara tradition, he lived from 433 BC to 357 BC. tradition dates him to have died in 365 BC. Natubhai Shah dated him from 322 to 243 BC.

Yasobhadra (351-235 BC), leader of the religious order reorganised by , had two principle disciples, Sambhutavijaya (347-257 BC) and Bhadrabahu. After his death the religious order was led by Sambhutivijaya. After Sambhutivijaya's death, Bhadrabahu became the head of the monastic order.


Digambara biography and explanation of sixteen dreams of Chandragupta
The sect believes that on the night of full moon in the month of Kartik, Chandragupta Maurya (founder and ruler of ) saw sixteen dreams, which were then explained to him by Acharya Bhadrabahu.

All the knowledge will be darkened
Decline of and Chandragupta's successors won't be initiated
The heavenly beings will not visit Bharata Kshetra
will be split into two sects
Lesser rains and poorer crops
True knowledge will be lost, few sparks will glimmer with feeble light
Aryakhanda will be destitute of Jain doctrines and falsehood will increase
Evil will start to prevail and goodness will be hidden
Vile, low-born, wicked will acquire power
Kings, not content with a sixth share, will introduce land-rent and oppress their subjects by increasing it
Young will form religious purposes, but forsake them when old
Kings of high descent will associate with the base
The low will torment the noble and try to reduce them to same level
King will assist in oppressing the people by levying unlawful taxes
The low, with hollow compliments, will get rid of the noble, the good and the wise
Twelve year of death and famine will come upon this land

Bhadrabahu was in Nepal for a 12-year penitential vow when the Pataliputra conference took place in 300 BC to put together the Jain canon anew. Bhadrabahu decided the famine would make it harder for monks to survive and migrated with a group of twelve thousand disciples to , A 6th-7th century inscription from Shravanabelagola mentions that Chandragupta became a under the guidance of Bhadrabahu, who is referred to in the record as Prabhachandra.

According to the inscriptions at , Bhadrabahu died after taking the vow of (Fast until death).

Digambara monks belong to the lineage of Acharya Vishakha and Śvetāmbara monks follow the tradition of Acharya . However, the theory that the schism occurred at that time has not been historically proven.


Śvetāmbara biography
According to Śvetāmbaras, Bhadrabahusuri was the author of the Kalpa Sūtra, four Cheda sutras, the niryukti collection on ten scriptures, and Uvasaggaharam Stotra. The 10 niryuktis authored by him are: -

  1. Āvaśyaka-Niryukti
  2. Daśavaikālika-Niryukti
  3. Uttarādhyayana-Niryukti
  4. Āchārāṅga-Niryukti
  5. Sutrakritanga-Niryukti
  6. Daśāśrutaskandha-Niryukti
  7. Kalpa-Niryukti
  8. Vyavahāra-Niryukti
  9. Sūryaprajnapti-Niryukti
  10. Ṛṣibhāṣita-Niryukti

Śvetāmbaras believe Bhadrabahu's principle disciples were Sthavir Godas, Sthavir Agnidatt, Sthavir Yagnadatt, and Sthavir Somdatt. However, in the of Kalpa Sūtra, he is said to have been succeeded by .

He is believed to have been a Sthavirkalpi monk and white-clad as Śvetāmbaras believe that the only other way for monks (known as Jinakalpa) or the practice of being a Jinakalpi monk had become extinct after attained nirvana.

(2018). 9780520302969, Univ of California Press. .
(1984). 9780936115009, Department of South Asia Regional Studies. .
Therefore, Śvetāmbaras hold that he was Sthavirkalpi and thus, white-clad.

Śvetāmbaras believe that Bhadrabāhu is the author of the following texts within the official Śvetāmbaras scriptural canon (typically consisting of 45 texts).

(1994). 9780060689858, Rowman & Littlefield. .
  • Vyavahāra (3rd Chedasūtra)
  • 8th chapter of Daśāśrutaskandha (4th Chedasūtra)
  • Kappa (5th Chedasūtra)
  • Piṇḍaniryukti (4th Mūlasūtra)
  • Oghaniryukti

Legacy
Regarding the inscriptions describing the relation of Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya, Radha Kumud Mookerji writes,

Bhadrabahu-charitra was written by Ratnanandi of about 1450 AD.

]]
Hill, where Chandragupta (the unifier of India and founder of the Dynasty) performed ]]


See also


Citations

Sources

Further reading
  • Bhadrabāhu. Āvaśyakaniryukti with Haribhadra’s commentary (reprint of Āgamodaya Samiti edition), vol. 1, Bombay, 1981.
  • Bhadrabāhu. Kalpasūtra, ed. , Leipzig, 1879.


External links
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