Sthulabhadra
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Sthulabhadra (297-198 BCE) was the founder of Svetambara Jain order during a 12-year famine in Maurya empire in third or fourth-century BC. He was a disciple of Bhadrabahu and Sambhutavijaya. His father was Sakatala, a minister in Nanda kingdom before the arrival of Chandragupta Maurya. When his brother became the chief minister of the kingdom, Sthulabhadra became a Jain monk. He is mentioned in the 12th-century Jain text by Hemachandra.
Life[]
Sthulabhadra was a son of the Dhana Nanda's minister Sakatala and brother of Shrikaya.[1][2] He is traditionally dated in 297 to 198 BCE.[1] He loved and lived with a royal dancer in Dhana Nanda's court named Rupkosa.[1][2] He denied ministry after the death of his father and became a Jain monk.[3] His brother became the chief minister in Nanda empire later.[4][2] He became a disciple of Sambhutavijaya (347-257 BCE) and Bhadrabahu (322-243 BCE).[5][2][6] He led an ascetic life for 12 years.[4] He spent his chaturmas at Rupkosa's home, during which she tried to lure him away from ascetic life but failed.[4] Sthulabhadra in turn gave her vows of a Shravika (Jain laywoman).[4]
He is said to have learned the 14 purvas (pre-canons) from Bhadrabahu and is considered as last spiritual omniscient in Svetambara tradition, a claim which is rejected by Digambara tradition.[4] He was succeeded by his disciples Mahagiri and Suhasti.[4][7] Digambara texts state that Sthulabhadra permitted the use loincloth during the 12-year famine, a practice that started the Svetambara order.[8][9] He is mentioned in the 12th-century Jain text by Hemachandra.[2]
References[]
Citations[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Natubhai Shah 2004, p. 42.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Hemacandra 1998, pp. 155, 169, 194–200.
- ^ Upinder Singh 2016, p. 273.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Natubhai Shah 2004, p. 43.
- ^ Natubhai Shah 2004, pp. 42-43.
- ^ Arya Sthulibhadra By Vijaya Nityānanda Sūri, Cidānanda Vijaya
- ^ Jain Dharma ka Maulik Itihas, Acharya Hastimal, 1974, Part 2, p. 383-440
- ^ "Digambara", britannica.com
- ^ Sthulabhadra, Ganesh Lalwani, Jain Journal, April 1985, p. 152
Sources[]
- Hemacandra (1998), The Lives of the Jain Elders, translated by Fynes, Richard, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-283227-6
- Shah, Natubhai (2004) [First published in 1998], Jainism: The World of Conquerors, I, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-81-208-1938-2
- Singh, Upinder (2016), A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century, Pearson PLC, ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9
- Jain acharyas
- 297 BC births
- 198 BC deaths
- Indian Jain monks
- 3rd-century BC Indian Jains
- 3rd-century BC Jain monks
- 3rd-century BC Indian monks
- 2nd-century BC Indian Jains
- 2nd-century BC Jain monks
- 2nd-century BC Indian monks
- Śvētāmbara monks
- Jainism stubs
- Indian religious biography stubs