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Sthulabhadra

Acharya Sthulabhadra Suri
Sthulabhadra Jain temple in Kamaldah, Patna
Preceded by	Acharya Bhadrabahusuri
Succeeded by	Acharya Mahagirisuri and Acharya Suhastinsuri
Personal
Religion	Jainism
Parent	Sakatala (father)
Sect	Śvetāmbara
Religious career
Teacher	Acharya Sambhutavijayasuri

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Sthulabhadra (297-198 BCE) was a Jain monk who lived during the 3rd or 4th century BC. He was a disciple of Bhadrabahu and Sambhutavijaya. His father was Sakatala, a minister in Nanda kingdom before the arrival of Chandragupta Maurya. When his brother became the chief minister of the kingdom, Sthulabhadra became a Jain monk and suceeded Bhadrabahu in the Pattavali as per the writings of the Kalpa Sūtra.^[1] He is mentioned in the 12th-century Jain text Parisistaparvan (appendix to the Trisasti-shalakapurusa-caritra) by Hemachandra. ^[2]

Sthulabhadra was a son of the Dhana Nanda's minister Sakatala and brother of Shrikaya.^[3][4] He is traditionally dated in 297 to 198 BCE.^[3] He loved and lived with a royal dancer in Dhana Nanda's court named Rupkosa.^[3][4] He denied ministry after the death of his father and became a Jain monk.^[5] His brother became the chief minister in Nanda empire later.^[6][4] He became a disciple of Sambhutavijaya (347-257 BCE) and Bhadrabahu (322-243 BCE).^[7][4][8] He led an ascetic life for 12 years.^[6]

He spent his chaturmas at Rupkosa's home, during which she tried to lure him away from ascetic life but failed.^[6] Sthulabhadra in turn gave her vows of a Shravika (Jain laywoman).^[6]

He is said to have learned only 10 purvas (pre-canons with meanings) from Bhadrabahu. Although he knew the last 4 purvas as well, but since he did not know the meaning associated with them, he is not considered to have been a Shrutakevalin.^[2] He was succeeded by his disciples Acharya Mahagirisuri and Acharya Suhastinsuri, whom he taught only 10 purvas because Bhadrabahu had imposed a condition upon him that he would not teach the last 4 purvas to anyone because he had used the knowledge of purvas to display magical powers.^[2][6][9] 10th century Digambara texts state that Sthulabhadra permitted the use loincloth during the 12-year famine, a practice that started the Śvetāmbara order, but is considered as baseless according to followers of the Śvetāmbara sect. Avashyak Bhashya, a 5th century Śvetāmbara text written by Jinabhadra claims that the Śvetāmbara sect had always existed and that the Digambara sect was created by a rebellious monk named Sivabhuti. ^[10][11][12]

Śvetāmbaras venerate Acharya Sthulabhadrasuri in the following hymn:^[13]

मंगलं भगवान वीरो, मंगलं गौतम प्रभु।
मंगलं स्थूलिभद्राद्या, जैन धर्मोस्तु मंगलं।।

Translated as:

Mangalam Bhagaväna Viro, mangalam Gautama prabhu,
Mangalam Sthülibhadrädyä, Jaina dharmostu mangalam.

Meaning:

Bhagawän Mahävir is auspicious, Ganadhar Gautam Swämi is auspicious;
Ächärya Sthulibhadra is auspicious, Jain religion is auspicious.

• Hemacandra (1998), The Lives of the Jain Elders, translated by Fynes, Richard, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-283227-6
• Shah, Natubhai (2004) [First published in 1998], Jainism: The World of Conquerors, vol. I, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-81-208-1938-2
• Singh, Upinder (2016), A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century, Pearson PLC, ISBN 978-81-317-1677-9

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