Gautama Swami

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Indrabhuti Gautama
1st Ganadhara of Tirthankara Mahavira
shrii gautm gnndhr.png
An idol of Gautama Swami
Successor Sudharmaswami
Age92
Personal information
Parents
  • Vasubhūti (father)
  • Prithvī (mother)

Gautama Swami, born as Indrabhuti Gautama was the first Ganadhara (chief disciple) of Mahavira, the 24th and last Jain Tirthankara of present half cycle of time. [1] He is also referred to as Guru Gautama, Gautama Ganadhara, and Ganadhara Gautama Swami.

Contents

Life

Gautama was the senior-most of 11 ganadharas (chief disciples) of Mahavira. [2] He had two brothers Agnibhuti and Vayubhuti who also became ganadhara of Mahavira. [3] Other ganadhara were Vyakta, Sudharmaswami, Mandikata Mauryaputra, Akampita, Acalabharata, Metarya and Prabhasa. [3] A stone pillar of Utaroda mentions Mahagiri as one of Ganadharas of Mahavira who had Utara as his chief disciple. [4]

In Jain traditional accounts, Gautama is believed to have gained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) immediately after the moksha (liberation) of Mahavira. [5] He was succeeded by Sudharmaswami who is believed to have gained omniscience after a further 12 years. [5]

According to the elaboration of Debate with the Ganadhara by Jinabhadra, the learned Brahmin Gautama summoned the gods to a great sacrifice but instead they flew off to hear Mahavira preaching at his second samavasarana near by. [6] In fury, Gautama confronted Mahavira in debate, as did ten other brahmins in succession, with the fordmaker converting them all by a demonstration, underpinned by his claim to omniscience. [6] According to Svetambara texts, Gautama had a meeting with Keśī (ganadhara of Parshvanatha). [7] Svetambaras write Gautama's name in new account books as a sign of auspiciousness in the new year. [8]

Gautama is connected with prosperity as he fed some monks using his magical powers. [8] Gautama is mentioned in the Exposition of Explanations, as an interpreter of Mahavira. [6] It is further mentioned that they have been friends in their previous incarnations and will attain moksha in the one which they are now. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

Jainism, also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religion. Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four tirthankaras, with the first in the current time cycle being Rishabhadeva, whom the tradition holds to have lived millions of years ago, the twenty-third tirthankara Parshvanatha, whom historians date to the 9th century BCE, and the twenty-fourth tirthankara Mahavira, around 600 BCE. Jainism is considered an eternal dharma with the tirthankaras guiding every time cycle of the cosmology. The three main pillars of Jainism are ahiṃsā (non-violence), anekāntavāda (non-absolutism), and aparigraha (asceticism).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahavira</span> Final tirthankara of Jainism

Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. He was the spiritual successor of the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha. Mahavira was born in the early part of the 6th century BCE into a royal Jain family in ancient India. His mother's name was Trishala and his father's name was Siddhartha. They were lay devotees of Parshvanatha. Mahavira abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of about 30 and left home in pursuit of spiritual awakening, becoming an ascetic. Mahavira practiced intense meditation and severe austerities for twelve and a half years, after which he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience). He preached for 30 years and attained moksha (liberation) in the 6th century BCE, although the year varies by sect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Śvētāmbara</span> Branch of Jainism

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<i>Kalpa Sūtra</i> Jain manuscript written by Bhadrabahu

The Kalpa Sūtra is a Jain text containing the biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras, notably Parshvanatha and Mahavira. Traditionally ascribed to Bhadrabahu, which would place it in the 4th century BCE, it was probably put in writing 980 or 993 years after the Nirvana (Moksha) of Mahavira.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parshvanatha</span> 23rd Tirthankara in Jainism

Parshvanath, also Pārśvanātha, Parshva, Pārśva and Parasnath, was the 23rd of 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism. He gained the title of Kalīkālkalpataru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhadrabahu</span> 4th-century BC Indian Jain monk and teacher

Ācārya Bhadrabāhu was, according to the Digambara sect of Jainism, the last Shruta Kevalin in Jainism. He was the last acharya of the undivided Jain sangha. He was the spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kundakunda</span> Indian Jain monk

Kundakunda was a Digambara Jain monk and philosopher, who likely lived in the second century CE or later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jain monasticism</span> Order of monks and nuns in the Jain community

Jain monasticism refers to the order of monks and nuns in the Jain community and can be divided into two major denominations: the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara. The monastic practices of the two major sects vary greatly, but the major principles of both are identical. Five mahāvratas, from Mahavira's teachings, are followed by all Jain ascetics. Historians believe that a united Jain sangha (community) existed before 367 BCE, about 160 years after the moksha (liberation) of Mahavira. The community then gradually divided into the major denominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rishabhanatha</span> First Tirthankara of Jainism

Rishabhanatha, also Rishabhadeva, Rishabha or Ikshvaku, is the first tirthankara of Jainism. He was the first of twenty-four teachers in the present half-cycle of time in Jain cosmology, and called a "ford maker" because his teachings helped one cross the sea of interminable rebirths and deaths. The legends depict him as having lived millions of years ago. He was the spiritual successor of Sampratti Bhagwan, the last Tirthankar of previous time cycle. He is also known as Ādinātha, as well as Adishvara, Yugadideva, Prathamarajeshwara and Nabheya. He is also known as Ikshvaku, establisher of Ikshvaku dynasty. Along with Mahavira, Parshvanath, Neminath, and Shantinath, Rishabhanatha is one of the five Tirthankaras that attract the most devotional worship among the Jains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neminatha</span> 22nd Jain Tirthankara

Neminātha, also known as Nemi and Ariṣṭanemi, is the twenty-second Tīrthaṅkara of Jainism in the present age. Neminatha lived 81,000 years before the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha. According to traditional accounts, he was born to King Samudravijaya and Queen Shivadevi of the Yadu dynasty in the north Indian city of Sauripura. His birth date was the fifth day of Shravana Shukla of the Jain calendar. Krishna, who was the 9th and last Jain Vasudev, was his first cousin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudharmaswami</span> 6th century BC Indian Jain monk

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganadhara</span> Disciples of Jain Tirthankara

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Jainism is a religion founded in ancient India. Jains trace their history through twenty-four tirthankara and revere Rishabhanatha as the first tirthankara. The last two tirthankara, the 23rd tirthankara Parshvanatha and the 24th tirthankara Mahavira are considered historical figures. According to Jain texts, the 22nd tirthankara Neminatha lived about 5,000 years ago and was the cousin of Krishna.

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Kevala jnana or Kevala gyana, also known as Kaivalya, means omniscience in Jainism and is roughly translated as complete understanding or supreme wisdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digambara</span> One of the two major schools of Jainism

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jain schools and branches</span> Major schools of thought

Jainism is an Indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twenty-four spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. Broadly, Jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, Digambara and Svetambara. These are further divided into different sub-sects and traditions. While there are differences in practices, the core philosophy and main principles of each sect is the same.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bharata (Jainism)</span> King in Jainism

In Jainism, Bharata was the first chakravartin of Avasarpini. He was the eldest son of Rishabhanatha, the first tirthankara. He had two sons from his chief-empress Subhadra, Arkakirti and Marichi. He is said to have conquered all six parts of the world and to have engaged in a fight with Bahubali, his brother, to conquer the last remaining city of the world.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jambuswami</span> Gandhara of Mahavira (543–449 BCE)

Jambuswami was the spiritual successor of Sudharmaswami in Jain religious order reorganised by Mahavira. He remained the head for 39 or 44 years, after which he is believed to have gained Kevala Jnana (omniscience). He is believed to be the third and last kevali after Mahavira in Jain tradition. He is believed to have attained moksha (liberation) at the age of 84 in Mathura.

References

Citations

  1. Teerthankar mahaveer aur unki acharya parampara by Dr. Nemi chandra shastry, Sagar, 1974 vol-1-4.
  2. Natubhai Shah 2004, p. 38.
  3. 1 2 Natubhai Shah 2004, p. 32.
  4. Vyas 1995, p. 28.
  5. 1 2 Natubhai Shah 2004, p. 39.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Dundas 2002, p. 37.
  7. von Glasenapp 1925, p. 35.
  8. 1 2 Dundas 2002, p. 39.

Sources