Ācārya Bhadrabāhu (c. 367 – c. 298 BC) was a Jain monk and scholar, traditionally regarded as the last Shrutakevalin, or the final ascetic to possess complete knowledge of the Jain scriptures. According to both sects of Jainism, he was the last Shrutakevali.
According to the Digambara tradition, he was the spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire. 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 Mahavira and other Tirthankara. It also lists down a Pattavali (a succession list of the names of the head of the Jain monastic order according to Śvetāmbaras, starting with Mahavira's Ganadhara (disciple) Sudharmaswami). Śvetāmbaras consider Bhadrabahusuri to be a Sthavirkalpi monk (as described in the Ācārāṅga Sūtra, the Kalpa Sūtra, and the Sthananga Sutra), and thus, white-clad. Śvetāmbaras also consider him to have had been a Shrutakevalin.
Yasobhadra (351-235 BC), leader of the religious order reorganised by Mahavira, 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.
All the knowledge will be darkened |
Decline of Jainism and Chandragupta's successors won't be initiated |
The heavenly beings will not visit Bharata Kshetra |
Jainism 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 South India, A 6th-7th century inscription from Shravanabelagola mentions that Chandragupta became a Digambar monk under the guidance of Bhadrabahu, who is referred to in the record as Prabhachandra.
According to the inscriptions at Shravanabelagola, Bhadrabahu died after taking the vow of sallekhana (Fast until death).
Digambara monks belong to the lineage of Acharya Vishakha and Śvetāmbara monks follow the tradition of Acharya Sthulabhadra. However, the theory that the schism occurred at that time has not been historically proven.
Śvetāmbaras believe Bhadrabahu's principle disciples were Sthavir Godas, Sthavir Agnidatt, Sthavir Yagnadatt, and Sthavir Somdatt. However, in the Pattavali of Kalpa Sūtra, he is said to have been succeeded by Sthulabhadra.
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 Jambuswami attained nirvana. 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).
Bhadrabahu-charitra was written by Ratnanandi of about 1450 AD.
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