Bhadrabahu

Ācārya Bhadrabāhu (c. 367 – c. 298 BC) was a Jain monk and scholar, traditionally regarded as the last 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. He is widely known as the spiritual guru of Chandragupta Maurya.

According to the Digambara tradition, he was the spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire. According to the Digambara sect of Jainism, there were five Shruta Kevalins in Jainism – Govarddhana Mahamuni, Vishnu, Nandimitra, Aparajita and Bhadrabahu.

According to the Śvetāmbara tradition, he was the author of the holy Kalpa Sūtra, which describes the life of Mahavira and other Tirthankaras. It also lists down a 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). Śvetāmbaras consider Bhadrabahusuri to be a 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 Shruta Kevalin.

Early life

Bhadrabahu was born in Pundravardhana (roughly equivalent to modern North Bengal ) to a Brahmin family (In Jain philosophy, a pratimādhārī shravaka—a layperson with vows—is considered a Brahman or Bamana) and Uvasaggaharam Stotra. Therefore, 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). 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 Mookerji writes,

Bhadrabahu-charitra was written by Ratnanandi of about 1450 AD.