Shrut Kevali

 

Who were Shrut Kevalis?

A shrut kevali is one who is conversant with the text and the meaning of the twelve Angas and the fourteen Purvas. Shrut kevalis do not possess kevaljnana or absolute knowledge, but because they have the knowledge of the entire scripture, they can throw light on the fundamental aspects of the religion. The name of the five shrut kevalis are as follows:

1.       Arya Prabhava,

2.       Arya Sayambhava,

3.       Arya Yashobhadra,

4.       Arya Sambhutivijaya

5.        Arya Bhadrabahu

After Bhadrabahu, the knowledge of the Purvas became lost.

Acharya Sayambhava wrote a book called Dasavaikalika Sutra. Sayambhava was married and had a son Manaka, before he became an ascetic. Sayambhava knew by his supernatural power that his son would only live a short time, so he wrote this book Dasavaikalika, in which he gave a complete conspectus of the leading Jain tenet. He explained the Jain religion to his son in ten afternoons that is why the name of the book is Dasavaikalika. This book is a monument of a father’s love towards his son which made Sayambhava famous.

Acharya Bhadrabahu was the author of Niryukti or commentaries on the ten canonical books. He also wrote a book on astronomy which is known as Bhadrabahu Samhita. But the holiest work of Bhadrabahu was Kalpa Sutra which the Jain community follow on a daily basis in their lifestyle.