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{{Short description|Indian Jain monk and teacher (c. 367–298 BCE)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{other uses|Bhadrabahu (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| honorific-prefix = Acharya
| honorific-suffix = Swami/Suri
| image = Chandragupta Maurya and Bhadrabahu - at the entrance to Chandragupta Basadi (cropped).jpg
| alt = Bhadrabahu
| caption = Sculpture of Chandragupta Maurya (left) and [[Bhadrabahu]] (right) at [[Chandragupta Basadi]]
| religion = [[Jainism]]
| sect = [[Digambara]] and [[Śvetāmbara]]
| birth_date = c. 367 BCE
| birth_place = [[Pundravardhana]]
| death_date = c. 298 BCE
| death_place = [[Shravanabelagola]]
| initiator = Govarddhana Mahamuni (Digambara) <br>
by Acharya Yashobhadrasuri (Śvetāmbara)
| works = [[Uvasagharam Stotra]], [[Kalpa Sutra]]
| initiated_label = Ascetics initiated
| initiated = [[Chandragupta Maurya]] (Digambara)<br>
Sthavir Godas, Sthavir Agnidatt, Sthavir Yagnadatt, Sthavir Somdatt (Śvetāmbara)
| successor = Acharya Vishakha (Digambara) <br>
[[Sthulabhadra|Acharya Sthulabhadrasuri]] (Śvetāmbara)
}}
{{Jainism}}
'''Ācārya Bhadrabāhu''' (c. 367 – c. 298 BC) was a [[Jain monk]] and scholar, traditionally regarded as the last ''[[Shrutakevalin|Shruta Kevalin]]'', or the final ascetic to possess complete knowledge of the Jain scriptures. According to both sects of [[Jainism]], he was the last Shrutakevali.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fynes|first1=F.C.C.|title=Hemachandra The Lives of Jain Elders|date=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press, Oxford World Classics|location=Oxford|isbn=0-19-283227-1|page=xxi|edition=1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bhattacharyya|first1=N.N.|title=Jainism, a Concise Encyclopedia|date=2009|publisher=Manohar Publishers and Distributors|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7304-312-3|page=235}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Jain |first=Jagdish Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ObUAAAAMAAJ&q=kalpasutra+sthaviravali+bhadrabahu+-wikipedia |title=Life in Ancient India: As Depicted in the Jain Canon and Commentaries, 6th Century BC to 17th Century AD |date=1984 |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal |language=en}}</ref> He is widely known as the spiritual guru of [[Chandragupta Maurya]].{{sfn|Wiley|2009|p=51}}

According to the [[Digambara]] tradition, he was the spiritual teacher of [[Chandragupta Maurya]], the founder of the [[Maurya Empire]].{{sfn|Wiley|2009|p=51}} According to the ''Digambara'' sect of Jainism, there were five ''Shruta Kevalins'' in Jainism – Govarddhana Mahamuni, Vishnu, Nandimitra, Aparajita and Bhadrabahu.{{sfn|Rice|1889|p=3}}

According to the [[Śvetāmbara]] tradition, he was the author of the holy [[Kalpa Sūtra]],<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IjVCAQAAMAAJ&dq=kalpasutra+sthaviravali+bhadrabahu+-wikipedia&pg=PA257 |title=Indian Antiquary |date=1910 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |language=en}}</ref> which describes the life of [[Mahavira]] and other [[Tirthankara|Tirthankaras]]. It also lists down a [[Pattavali|Sthaviravali]] (a succession list of the names of the head of the Jain monastic order according to Śvetāmbaras, starting with Mahavira's [[Ganadhara]] (disciple) [[Sudharmaswami]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jaina Sutras, Part I (SBE22): Lives of the Ginas: List of the Sthaviras |url=https://sacred-texts.com/jai/sbe22/sbe2290.htm |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=sacred-texts.com}}</ref> Śvetāmbaras consider Bhadrabahusuri to be a [[Ācārāṅga Sūtra|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|''Shruta Kevalin'']].

==Early life==
[[File:MET DP154821.jpg|thumb|Bhadrabahuswami]]
Bhadrabahu was born in [[Pundravardhana]] (roughly equivalent to modern [[North Bengal]]<ref>{{cite book|last1=Majumdar|first1=R.C.|title=History of Ancient Bengal|date=1971|publisher=G.Bharadwaj & Co.|location=Calcutta|page=12 & 13|edition=1971}}</ref>) to a [[Jain Brahmans|Jain-Brahman]] family (In Jain philosophy, a pratimādhārī shravaka—a layperson with vows—is considered a Brahman or Bamana)<ref name="jaini" /> during which time the secondary capital of the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryas]] was [[Ujjain]]. When he was seven, Govarddhana Mahamuni predicted that he will be the last ''Shruta Kevali'' and took him along for his initial education.{{sfn|Rice|1889|p=3}} According to ''[[Śvētāmbara]]'' tradition, he lived from 433 BC to 357 BC.{{sfn|Vidyabhusana|2006|p=164}} ''[[Digambara]]'' tradition dates him to have died in 365 BC.{{sfn|Vidyabhusana|2006|p=164–165}} Natubhai Shah dated him from 322 to 243 BC.{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=42}}

Yasobhadra (351-235 BC), leader of the religious order reorganised by [[Mahavira]], had two principle disciples, Sambhutavijaya (347-257 BC) and Bhadrabahu.{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=42}} After his death the religious order was led by Sambhutivijaya. After Sambhutivijaya's death, Bhadrabahu became the head of the monastic order.{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=42}}

== Digambara biography and explanation of sixteen dreams of Chandragupta ==
[[File:Bhadrabahu Goopha on Chandragiri.JPG|thumb|Bhadrabahu Guha on [[Chandragiri]]]]
[[File:Jain Inscription.jpg|thumb|Late inscription at [[Shravanabelagola]] describing the incoming of Bhadrabahu and [[Chandragupta Maurya]]]]
The [[Digambara]] sect believes that on the night of full moon in the month of ''Kartik'', [[Chandragupta Maurya]] (founder and ruler of [[Maurya Empire]]) saw sixteen dreams, which were then explained to him by ''Acharya'' Bhadrabahu.{{sfn|Rice|1889|p=4}}

{{static row numbers}}
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text"
|-
! Dream of Chandragupta !! Explanation by Bhadrabahu
|-
| The sun setting || All the knowledge will be darkened
|-
| A branch of the [[Kalpavriksha]] break off and fall || Decline of [[Jainism]] and Chandragupta's successors won't be initiated
|-
| A divine car descending in the sky and returning || The heavenly beings will not visit Bharata Kshetra
|-
| The disk of the moon sundered || [[Jainism]] will be split into two sects
|-
| Black [[Elephant|elephants]] fighting || Lesser rains and poorer crops
|-
| Fireflies shining in the twilight || True knowledge will be lost, few sparks will glimmer with feeble light
|-
| A dried up lake || Aryakhanda will be destitute of Jain doctrines and falsehood will increase
|-
| Smoke filling all the air || Evil will start to prevail and goodness will be hidden
|-
| An [[ape]] sitting on a throne || Vile, low-born, wicked will acquire power
|-
| A [[dog]] eating the payasa out of a golden bowl || Kings, not content with a sixth share, will introduce land-rent and oppress their subjects by increasing it
|-
| Young bulls labouring || Young will form religious purposes, but forsake them when old
|-
| [[Kshatriya]] boys riding donkeys || Kings of high descent will associate with the base
|-
| [[Monkey|Monkeys]] scaring away swans || The low will torment the noble and try to reduce them to same level
|-
| Calves jumping over the sea || King will assist in oppressing the people by levying unlawful taxes
|-
| [[Fox|Foxes]] pursuing old oxen || The low, with hollow compliments, will get rid of the noble, the good and the wise
|-
| A twelve-headed serpent approaching || Twelve year of death and famine will come upon this land{{sfn|Sangave|2001|p=174}}
|}

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]],{{sfn|Dundas|2002|p=47}}{{sfn|Rice|1889|p=5}} A 6th-7th century inscription from Shravanabelagola mentions that [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]] became a [[Digambar monk]] under the guidance of Bhadrabahu, who is referred to in the record as ''Prabhachandra''.{{sfn|Mookerji|1988|p=40}}{{sfn|Sangave|2001|p=174}}

According to the inscriptions at [[Shravanabelagola|Shravanabelgola]], Bhadrabahu died after taking the vow of [[sallekhana]] (Fast until death).{{sfn|Sangave|1981|p=32}}

''Digambara'' monks belong to the lineage of ''Acharya'' Vishakha and ''Śvetāmbara'' monks follow the tradition of ''Acharya'' [[Sthulabhadra]].{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=39}} However, the theory that the schism occurred at that time has not been historically proven.

== Śvetāmbara biography ==
According to [[Śvetāmbara|Śvetāmbaras]], Bhadrabahusuri was the author of the ''[[Kalpa Sūtra]]'',{{sfn|Mookerji|1988|p=4}} four Cheda sutras, the ''niryukti collection'' on ten scriptures,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leumann |first=Ernst |title=Outline of Avasyaka Literature |url=https://jainqq.org/explore/006911/159}}</ref> and [[Uvasaggaharam Stotra]].{{sfn|Wiley|2009|p=52}}<ref name="jaini" /> The 10 ''niryuktis'' authored by him are: -

# Āvaśyaka-Niryukti
# Daśavaikālika-Niryukti
# Uttarādhyayana-Niryukti
# Āchārāṅga-Niryukti
# Sutrakritanga-Niryukti
# Daśāśrutaskandha-Niryukti
# Kalpa-Niryukti
# Vyavahāra-Niryukti
# Sūryaprajnapti-Niryukti
# Ṛṣibhāṣita-Niryukti

[[Śvetāmbara|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|Acharya Sthulabhadrasuri]].

He is believed to have been a [[Ācārāṅga Sūtra|Sthavirkalpi]] monk and white-clad as [[Śvetāmbara|Śvetāmbaras]] believe that the only other way for monks (known as [[Ācārāṅga Sūtra|Jinakalpa]]) or the practice of being a [[Ācārāṅga Sūtra|Jinakalpi]] monk had become extinct after [[Jambuswami]] attained ''nirvana.''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jaini |first=Padmanabh S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=abnADwAAQBAJ&dq=%22sthavirakalpa%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA102 |title=Gender and Salvation: Jaina Debates on the Spiritual Liberation of Women |date=2018-08-14 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-30296-9 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Utz |first1=David Anthony |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-sAoAAAAYAAJ&q=jinakalpa+extinct+-wikipedia |title=Identity and Division in Cults and Sects in South Asia |last2=Gaeffke |first2=Peter |date=1984 |publisher=Department of South Asia Regional Studies |isbn=978-0-936115-00-9 |language=en}}</ref> Therefore, [[Śvetāmbara|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).<ref name="ThatWhichIs">{{cite book |title=That Which Is |first=Nathmal |last=Tatia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0Rw4RwN9Q1kC |year=1994 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-06-068985-8 |page=294}}</ref>
*''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 Mukherjee|Radha Kumud Mookerji]] writes,{{blockquote|The oldest inscription of about 600 AD associated "the pair (''yugma''), Bhadrabahu along with Chandragupta ''Muni''." Two inscriptions of about 900 AD on the [[Kaveri]] near [[Srirangapatna|Seringapatam]] describe the summit of a hill called [[Chandragiri hill|Chandragiri]] as marked by the footprints of Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta ''munipati''. A [[Shravanabelagola]] inscription of 1129 mentions Bhadrabahu "''Shrutakevali''", and Chandragupta who acquired such merit that he was worshipped by the forest deities. Another inscription of 1163 similarly couples and describes them. A third inscription of the year 1432 speaks of ''Yatindra'' Bhadrabahu, and his disciple Chandragupta, the fame of whose penance spread into other words.{{sfn|Mookerji|1988|p=40}}|[[Radha Kumud Mukherjee|Radha Kumud Mookerji]]}}

''Bhadrabahu-charitra'' was written by Ratnanandi of about 1450 AD.{{sfn|Mookerji|1988|p=40}}
<gallery>
File:Djtradition marhiaji.jpg|Stella showing the transmission of the oral tradition (Photo: Marhiaji, Jabalpur)
File:Chandragupta Maurya and Bhadrabahu.jpg|A statue depicting Chandragupta Maurya (right) with his spiritual mentor [[Acharya Bhadrabahu]] at [[Shravanabelagola]]
File:Bhadrabāhusvāmī at Kesariyaji Adinath Temple in Palitana.jpg|Image of Bhadrabāhu at Kesariyaji Adinath Jain Temple, Palitana
File:Tijara Jain temple painting 32.jpg|Chandragupta Maurya having 16 [[auspicious dreams in Jainism]]
File:Footprint of Chandragupta Maurya.jpg|The Footprints of Chandragupta Maurya on [[Chandragiri hill|Chandragiri]] Hill, where Chandragupta (the unifier of India and founder of the [[Maurya Empire|Maurya]] Dynasty) performed [[Sallekhana]]
</gallery>

==See also==
[[Sthulabhadra]]
<gallery>
File:Ārya Sthūlabhadra idol at Khaḍākhoṭadī no Pāḍo Jaina Temple at Patan, Gujarat (India).jpg|14th century Ārya Sthūlabhadra idol at the Khaḍākhoṭadī no Pāḍo Jaina Temple at [[Patan, Gujarat|Patan]]
</gallery>

==References==
===Citations===
<references>
<ref name="jaini">{{cite book|last=Jaini|first=Padmanabh|title=Collected Papers on Jaina Studies|year=2000|publisher=Motilal Banarasidass|page=299}}</ref>
</references>

===Sources===
*{{citation |last=Dundas |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Dundas |title=The Jains |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X8iAAgAAQBAJ |edition=Second |date=2002 |orig-year=1992 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=0-415-26605-X }}
*{{citation |last=Mookerji |first=Radha Kumud |author-link=Radha Kumud Mukherjee |title=Chandragupta Maurya and his times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-y6ZUheQH8C |edition=4th |year=1988 |orig-year=first published in 1966 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=81-208-0433-3 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Rice |first1=Benjamin Lewis |title=Epigraphia Carnatica: Rev. ed |date=1889 |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMUUAAAAYAAJ |language=kn}}
*{{citation |last=Sangave |first=Vilas Adinath |author-link=Vilas Adinath Sangave |title=The Sacred Sravana-Belagola: A Socio-religious study |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nZ3S6CW5KKQC |date=1981 |publisher=[[Bharatiya Jnanpith]] |edition=First }}
*{{citation|last=Sangave|first=Vilas Adinath|title=Facets of Jainology: Selected Research Papers on Jain Society, Religion, and Culture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QzEQJHWUwXQC|year=2001|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7154-839-2}}
* {{citation |last=Shah |first=Natubhai |title=Jainism: The World of Conquerors |url={{Google books|qLNQKGcDIhsC|plainurl=yes}} |volume=I |date=2004 |orig-year=First published in 1998 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=978-81-208-1938-2 |ref={{sfnref|Natubhai Shah|2004}} }}
*{{Citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUz9o-EKTpwC|title=The a to Z of Jainism|isbn=9780810868212|last1=Wiley|first1=Kristi L|date=16 July 2009|page=51|publisher=Scarecrow Press }}
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* {{citation |editor-last=Vyas |editor-first=Dr. R. T. |author-link=R.T. Vyas |url={{Google books|fETebHcHKogC|plainurl=yes}} |title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects |publisher=The Director, Oriental Institute, on behalf of the Registrar, M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara |year=1995 |isbn=81-7017-316-7 }}

==Further reading==
*Bhadrabāhu. ''Āvaśyakaniryukti'' with Haribhadra’s commentary (reprint of Āgamodaya Samiti edition), vol. 1, Bombay, 1981.
*Bhadrabāhu. ''Kalpasūtra'', ed. [[Hermann Jacobi]], Leipzig, 1879.

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Jain Gurus}}
{{Jainism topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:430s BC births]]
[[Category:350s BC deaths]]
[[Category:Digambara Acharyas]]
[[Category:Indian Jain monks]]
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[[Category:5th-century BC Indian monks]]
[[Category:4th-century BC Indian Jains]]
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[[Category:4th-century BC Indian monks]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian writers]]
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[[Category:4th-century BC Indian writers]]
[[Category:Jain acharyas]]

Bhadrabāhu - Revision history

Srcsdoon at 02:34, 5 February 2026