The 11 Ganadharas of Lord Mahavira
The 11 Ganadharas of Lord
Mahavira
1.
Indrabhuti Gautama – He was the resident of the
village Gubbara in the kingdom of Magadh. His father was Vasubhuti who was a
brahmin having Gautama as gotra. Indrabhuti initiated into the shramana
religion at the age of 50 years, practised self-discipline for 30 years and at
the age of 80 years he attained kevaljnana in the next morning, previous night
Mahavira attained nirvana. He preached religion for 12 years after death of
Mahavira and attained nirvana at the age of 92 years.
2.
Agnibhuti Gautama – He was the second younger
brother of Indrabhuti Gautama. He took initiation at the age of 46 and after 12
years he attained kevaljnana. He preached religion for 16 years and thereafter
attained nirvana at the age of 74, during the life time of Mahavira.
3.
Vayubhuti Gautama – He was the third younger
brother of Indrabhuti Gautama. He took initiation at the age of 42, realised
kevaljnana 10 years after initiation, and 18 years after that attained
liberation at 70 during the lifetime of Mahavira.
4.
Arya-Vyakta – He was the son of Dhanamitra, a
brahmin of Bharadwaj gotra. He was resident of Kollaga colony. He took
initiation at the age of 50, realised kevaljnana after 12 years and thereafter
preached religion for 18 years before attaining salvation at 80, during
Mahavira’s lifetime.
5.
Sudharma – He was the son of Dhammila, a brahmin
of Agnivaishyayana gotra. He was an inhabitant of Kollaga colony. He took the
Nirgrantha sanyasa at the age of 50, attained kevaljnana at 92, and eight years
after that attained liberation at the age of 100 ; 20 years after Mahavira’s
nirvana. After Mahavira, he became the head of the Nirgrantha community. He
composed the 12 Angas on the basis of triple formula of Mahavira. The meaning
of triple formula is as follows: creation, destruction and stability. According
to Jain philosophy, in every existing object and at every moment there is
simultaneity of the processes of origination, death or dissolution and
stability.
6.
Mandita – He was the son of Dhanadeva of the
Vashistha gotra of the Maurya colony. He was initiated at the age of 53,
attained kevaljnana at 67 and salvation at 83.
7.
Mauryaputra – He was the son of a brahmin named
Maurya of Kashyap gotra, who lived in a Maurya colony. He received initiation
at 65, realised kevaljnana at 79 and liberation at 95.
8.
Akampita – He was the son of a brahmin Deva of
the Gautama gotra who lived in Mithila. He took initiation at 48, attained
kevaljnan after nine years and nirvana at the age of 78.
9.
Achalabhrata – He was the son of a brahmin named
Vasu of the Harita gotra and an inhabitant of Koshala. He took initiation at
46, attained kevaljnan after 12 years and nirvana after 14 years.
10.
Metarya – He was the son of a brahmin named
Datta of the Kaundinya gotra and an inhabitant of the Tungika colony in the
Vatsa kingdom. He took the initiation as shraman at the age of 36, realised
kevaljnan after 10 years and attained nirvana 16 years later.
11.
Prabhasa – He was the son of a brahmin named
Vala of the Kaundinya gotra, who lived in Rajgir. He took the initiation at the
age of 16, attained kevaljnan 8 years after and nirvana at 40.
Among these 11 ganadharas, except the 1st
ganadhara, Indrabhuti Gautama and the 5th ganadhara, Sudharma, all
others attained salvation during Mahavir’s lifetime. After Mahavir’s nirvana,
Sudharma Swamy, the 5th ganadhara became the leader of the
Nirgrantha community. He attained nirvana after serving the sangha as leader
for 20 years. He was succeeded by his
chief disciple, Arya Jambu Swamy.
Arya Jambu Swamy took initiation at the age
of 16, attained kevaljnana after 20 years, led the sangha and preached the
religion for 44 years and attained salvation at the age of 80. He was the last
known Acharya who attained nirvana.
After the death of Arya Jambu Swamy, his
disciple Arya Prabhava became the leader of the community. He died after giving
leadership for 11 years.
Then Arya Sayambhava, disciple of Arya
Prabhava, led the community for 23 years.
After him, Arya Yashobhadra, disciple of
Arya Sayambhava, became the leader and continued for 8 years.
Arya Yashobhadra was followed by Arya
Sambhutivijaya, who led the sangha for only two years.
After him, Arya Bhadrabahu, disciple of Arya
Yashobhadra, led the sangha for 14 years. He died 170 years after the death of
Lord Mahavira. Arya Bhadrabahu was the last shrut kevali.
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