List of the Sthaviras

Jaina Sutras, Part II (SBE22), tr. by Hermann Jacobi, [1884], at sacred-texts.com

p. 286

LIST OF THE STHAVIRAS.

At that period, at that age the Venerable Ascetic Mahâvîra had nine Ganas and eleven Ganadharas.

'Why, now, has it been said, that the Venerable Ascetic Mahâvîra had nine Ganas, but eleven Ganadharas?'

'The oldest monk of the Venerable Ascetic Mahâvîra was Indrabhûti of the Gautama gotra, who instructed five hundred Sramanas; the middle-aged monk was Agnibhûti of the Gautama gotra, who instructed five hundred Sramanas; the youngest was Vâyubhûti of the Gautama gotra, who instructed five hundred Sramanas. The Sthavira Ârya-Vyakta of the Bhâradvâga gotra instructed five hundred Sramanas; the Sthavira Ârya-Sudharman of the Agnivesyâyana gotra instructed five hundred Sramanas; the Sthavira Mandikaputra ¹ of the Vâsishtha gotra instructed two hundred and fifty Sramanas; the Sthavira Mauryaputra of the Kâsyapa gotra instructed two hundred and fifty Sramanas; the Sthavira Akampita of the Gautama gotra and Sthavira Akalabhrâtri of the Hâritâyana gotra, both Sthaviras instructed together three hundred Sramanas each; the Sthaviras Metârya and Prabhâsa, both of the Kaundinya gotra, instructed together

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three hundred Sramanas each ¹. Therefore, Sir, has it been said that the Venerable Ascetic Mahâvîra had nine Ganas, but eleven Ganadharas: (1)

All these eleven Ganadharas of the Venerable Ascetic Mahâvîra, who knew the twelve Aṅgas, the fourteen Pûrvas, and the whole Siddhânta of the Ganins, died, &c. (all down to) freed from all pains in Râgagriha after fasting a month without drinking water. The Sthaviras Indrabhûti and Ârya Sudharman both died after the Nirvâna of Mahâvira. The Nirgrantha Sramanas of the present time are all (spiritual) descendants of the monk Ârya Sudharman, the rest of the Ganadharas left no descendants. (2)

The Venerable Ascetic Mahâvîra was of the Kâsyapa gotra. His disciple was ²:

 1. Ârya Sudharman of the Agnivesyâyana gotra;

 2. Ârya Gambûnâman of the Kâsyapa gotra;

 3. Ârya Prabhava of the Kâtyâyana gotra;

 4. Ârya Sayyambha, father of Manaka, was of the Vatsa gotra;

 5. Ârya Yasobhadra of the Tuṅgikâyana gotra. (3)

In the short redaction the list of Sthaviras after .Ârya Yasobhadra is the following:

 6. Ârya Sambhûtavigaya of the Mâthara gotra and Ârya Bhadrabâhu of the Prâkîna gotra;

 7. Ârya Sthûlabhadra of the Gautama gotra;

 8. i. Ârya Mahâgiri of the Ailâpatya gotra and

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    ii. Ârya Suhastin of the Vâsishtha gotra;

 9. Susthita and Supratibuddha, surnamed Kotika and Kâkandaka, of the Vyâghrâpatya gotra;

 10. Ârya Indradatta (Indadinna) of the Kausika gotra;

 11. Ârya Datta (Dinna) of the Gautama gotra;

 12. Ârya Simhagiri Gâtismara of the Kausika gotra;

 13. Ârya Vagra of the Gautama gotra;

 14. Ârya Vagrasena of the Utkrishta gotra ¹.

He had four disciples: Ârya Nâgila, Ârya Padmila, Ârya Gayanta, and Ârya Tâpasa, each of whom founded a Sâkhâ called after his name, viz. the Aryanâgilâ Sâkhâ, the Âryapadmilâ Sâkhâ, the Âryagayantî Sâkhâ, and the Âryatâpasî Sâkhâ. (4)

In the detailed redaction the list of Sthaviras after Ârya Yasobhadra is the following:

 6. i. Ârya Bhadrabâhu of the Prâkîna gotra, who had four disciples of the Kâsyapa gotra:

     a. Godâsa, founder of the Godâsa Gana ², which was divided into four Sâkhâs:

       α. The Tâmraliptikâ Sâkhâ,

       β. The Kotivarshîyâ Sâkhâ,

       γ. The Pundravardhanîyâ Sâkhâ, and

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       δ. The Dâsîkharbatikâ Sâkhâ.

     b. Agnidatta,

     c. Ganadatta,

     d. Somadatta.

    ii. Ârya Sambhutavigaya of the Mâthara gotra, who had twelve disciples:

 7.  a. Nandanabhadra,

     b. Upananda,

     c. Tishyabhadra ¹,

     d. Yasobhadra,

     e. Sumanobhadra ²,

     f. Manibhadra,

     g. Punyabhadra ³,

     h. Sthûlabhadra of the Gautama gotra,

     i. Rigumati,

     k. Gambû,

     l. Dîrghabhadra, and

     m. Pândubhadra;

and seven female disciples:

     a. Yakshâ,

     b. Yakshadattâ (Yakshadinnâ),

     c. Bhûtâ,

     d. Bhûtadattâ (Bhûtadinnâ),

     e. Senâ (also Enâ),

     f. Venâ,

     g Renâ.

 8. i. Ârya Mahâgiri of the Ailâpatya gotra, who had eight disciples:

     a. Uttara,

     b. Balissaha, who both together founded the Uttarabalissaha Gana, which was divided into four Sâkhâs

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       α. Kausambikâ,

       β. Sautaptikâ (Pr. Soittiyâ),

       γ. Kautumbinî (or Kundadharî),

       δ. Kandanâgarî.

     c. Dhanarddhi (Pr. Dhanaddha),

     d. Sirarddhi (Pr. Siriddha),

     e. Kodinya,

     f. Nâga,

     g. Nâgaputra,

     h. Khaluka Rohagupta of the Kausika gotra, founder of the Trairâsika Sâkhâ.

    ii. Ârya Suhastin ¹ of the Vâsishtha gotra, who had twelve disciples:

 9.  a. Ârya Rohana of the Kâsyapa gotra, founder of the Uddeha Gana, which was divided into four Sâkhâs:

       α. Udumbarikâ (Pr. Udumbariggiyâ),

       β. Mâsapûrikâ,

       γ. Matipatrikâ,

       δ. Pûrnapatrikâ (Pr. Punnapattiyâ, Panna°, Sunna°, or Suvanna°);

and into six Kulas:

       α´. Nâgabhûta,

       β´. Somabhûta,

       γ´. Ullagakkha (or Ârdrakakkha?),

       δ´. Hastilipta (Pr. Hatthiligga),

       ε´. Nândika (Pr. Nandigga),

       ζ´. Parihâsaka.

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     b. Bhadrayasas of the Bhâradvâga gotra, who founded the Uduvâtika Gana, which was divided into four Sâkhâs:

       α. Kampîyikâ (Pr. Kampiggiyâ),

       β. Bhadrîyikâ (Pr. Bhaddiggiyâ),

       γ. Kâkandikâ,

       δ. Mekhalîyikâ (Pr. Mehaliggiyâ);

and into three Kulas:

       α´. Bhadrayaska (Pr. Bhaddagasiya),

       β´. Bhadraguptika,

       γ´. Yasobhadra (Pr. Gasabhadda).

     c. Megha.

     d. Kâmarddhi (Pr. Kâmiddhi) of the Kundala gotra, who founded the Vesavâtika Gana, which was divided into four Sâkhâs:

       α. Srâvastikâ,

       β. Râgyapâlikâ (Pr. Raggapâliyâ),

       γ. Antarañgikâ (Pr. Antariggiyâ),

       δ. Kshemaliptikâ (Pr. Khemaliggiyâ);

and into four Kulas:

       α´. Ganika,

       β´. Maighika,

       γ´. Kâmarddhika,

       δ´. Indrapuraka.

     e. Srîgupta of the Hârita gotra, founder of the Kârana Gana, which was divided into four Sâkhâs:

       α. Hâritamâlâkârî,

       β. Samkâsikâ,

       γ. Gavedhukâ,

       δ. Vagranâgarî;

and into seven Kulas:

       α´. Vâtsalîya (Pr. Vakkhaligga),

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       β´. Prîtidharmika,

       γ´. Hâridraka (Pr. Hâligga),

       δ´. Pushyamitrika (Pr. Pûsamittigga),

       ε´. Mâlyaka (Pr. Mâligga),

       ζ´. Âryaketaka,

       η´. Krishnasakha (Pr. Kanhasaha).

     f. Rishigupta Kâkandaka of the Vâsishtha gotra, founder of the Mânava Gana, which was divided into four Sâkhâs:

       α. Kâsyapîyâ (Pr. Kâsaviggiyâ),

       β. Gautamîyâ (Pr. Goyameggiyâ),

       γ. Vâsishthîyâ (Pr. Vâsitthiyâ),

       δ. Saurâshtrikâ;

and into three Kulas:

       α´. Rishiguptika,

       β´. Rishidattika,

       γ´. Abhiyasasa.

     g. and h. Susthita and Supratibuddha, surnamed Kautika and Kâkandaka, of the Vyâghrâpatya gotra, founders of the Kautika Gana, which was divided into four Sâkhâs:

       α. Ukkanâgarî,

       β. Vidyâdharî,

       γ. Vagrî,

       δ. Madhyamikâ (Pr. Magghimilla);

and into four Kulas:

       α´. Brahmaliptaka (Pr. Bambhaligga),

       β´. Vâtsalîya (Pr. Vakkhaligga, cf. e. α´.),

       γ´. Vânîya (Pr. Vânigga),

       δ´. Prasnavâhanaka.

Both Sthaviras had together five disciples:

 10. a. Ârya Indradatta (Pr. Indadinna) of the Kâsyapa gotra,

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     b. Priyagantha, founder of the Madhyamâ Sâkhâ,

     c. Vidyâdharagopâla of the Kâsyapa gotra, founder of the Vidyâdharî Sâkhâ,

     d. Rishidatta,

     e. Arhaddatta (Pr. Arihadatta).

 11. Ârya Datta (Pr. Dinna) of the Gautama gotra, who had two disciples:

 12. i. Ârya Sântisenika of the Mâthara gotra, founder of the Ukkanâgarî Sâkhâ, who had four disciples:

     a. Ârya Senika, founder of the Âryasenikâ Sâkhâ,

     b. Ârya Tâpasa, founder of the Âryatâpasî Sâkhâ,

     c. Ârya Kubera, founder of the Âryakuberâ Sâkhâ, and

     d. Ârya Rishipâlita, founder of the Âryarishipâlitâ Sâkhâ.

    ii. Ârya Simhagiri Gâtismara of the Gautama gotra, who had four disciples:

 13. a. Dhanagiri,

     b. Ârya Samita of the Gautama gotra, founder of the Brahmadvîpikâ Sâkhâ,

     c. Ârya Vagra of the Gautama gotra, founder of the Âryavagrâ Sâkhâ,

     d. Arhaddatta (Pr. Arihadinna).

 14. i. Ârya Vagrasena, founder of the Aryanâgilâ Sâkhâ,

    ii. Ârya Padma, founder of the Âryapadmâ Sâkhâ,

    iii. Ârya Ratha of the Vatsa gotra, founder of the Âryagayantî Sâkhâ.

 15. Ârya Pushyagiri of the Kausika gotra.

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 16. Ârya Phalgumitra of the Gautama gotra.

 17. Ârya Dhanagiri of the Vâsishtha gotra.

 18. Ârya Sivabhûti of the Kautsa gotra.

 19. Ârya Bhadra of the Kâsyapa gotra.

 20. Ârya Nakshatra of the Kâsyapa gotra.

 21. Ârya Raksha of the Kâsyapa gotra.

 22. Ârya Nâga of the Gautama gotra.

 23. Ârya Gehila ¹ of the Vâsishtha gotra.

 24. Ârya Vishnu of the Mâthara gotra.

 25. Ârya Kâlaka of the Gautama gotra.

 26. Ârya Sampalita and Bhadra, both of the Gautama gotra.

 27. Ârya Vriddha of the Gautama gotra.

 28. Ârya Saṅghapâlita of the Gautama gotra.

 29. Ârya Hastin of the Kâsyapa gotra.

 30. Ârya Dharma of the Suvrata gotra.

 31. Ârya Simha of the Kâsyapa gotra.

 32. Ârya Dharma of the Kâsyapa gotra.

 33. Ârya Sândilya ².

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Bowing down my head, I pay my reverence to the Sthavira Gambû of the Gautama gotra, who possessed steady virtue, good conduct, and knowledge. ix.

I prostrate myself before the Sthavira Nandita of Kâsyapa gotra, who is possessed of great clemency and of knowledge, intuition, and good conduct. x.

Then I adore the Kshamâsramana Desiganin of the Kâsyapa gotra, who, steady in his conduct, possesses the highest righteousness and virtue. xi.

Then I prostrate myself before the Kshamâsramana Sthiragupta of the Vâtsya gotra, the preserver of the sacred lore, the wise one, the ocean of wisdom, him of great virtue. xii.

Then I adore the Sthavira prince, Dharma, the virtuous Ganin, who stands well in knowledge, intuition, good conduct, and penance, and is rich in virtues ¹. xiii.

I revere the Kshamâsramana Devarddhi of the Kâsyapa gotra, who wears, as it were, the jewel of the right understanding of the Sûtras, and possesses the virtues of patience, self-restraint, and clemency. xiv.

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End of the List of the Sthaviras.

Footnotes

286:1 Some spell this name Manditaputra; he and Mauryaputra were sons of the same mother, Vigayadevî, but different fathers; the former of Dhanadeva, the other of Maurya. I do not know any legend which connects this Maurya with a king of the Maurya dynasty, which besides would be impossible from a chronological point of view.

287:1 The sum total of Sramanas is therefore 4711, while in § 134 it is stated to have been 14,000.

287:2 I only give the facts. The names of those Sthaviras who continue the line are spaced. The names are given in their Sanskrit form which in many cases is well known, in others can easily be made out. In doubtful cases I have put the Prâkrit form in brackets.

288:1 He is left out in some MSS.

288:2 It is not quite clear what is meant by Gana, Kula, and Sâkhâ. Gana designates the school which is derived from one teacher; Kula the succession of teachers in one line; Sâkhâ the lines which branch off from each teacher. These terms seem to be disused in modern times, for the four principal divisions called after Nâgendra, Kandra, Nivritti, and Vidyâdhara are generally called Kulas, but also occasionally Sâkhâs. They go back to Vagra according to some, to Vagrasena according to others. The modern Gakkha appears equivalent with the ancient Gana.

289:1 Tîsabhadda, translated Tridasabhadra.

289:2 Or Sumanabhadra.

289:3 Or Pûrnibhadra.

290:1 Suhastin is said to have converted Samprati, grandson and successor of Asoka. The correctness of this statement is open to doubt; but at any rate Suhastin must have been one of the most important patriarchs, for under and immediately after him the spread of Gainism must have been uncommonly vigorous, as is proved by the great number of Kulas and Sâkhâs at that time.

294:1 A various reading has Getthila = Gyeshtha.

294:2 This list in prose from 17 down to 33 is wanting in some MSS. I think that Sândilya is the same as Skandila, who was president of the council of Mathurâ, which seems to have been the rival of that in Valabhî; see notes to my edition of the Kalpa Sûtra, p. 117.

It deserves to be noticed that the gotra of Sândilya is not given, while that of the remaining Sthaviras is specialised. This seems to prove that his name is a later addition to the list.

After the prose list all MSS. have eight gâthâs, in which the names 16-32, given above, are repeated. Instead of translating these verses, which contain little more than a string of names, I only note down the differences from the above list. After 18 is added Durgaya Krishna, a Kautika; Nakshatra is shortened, metri causa, to Nakkha; the gotra of Saṅghapâlita is Kâsyapa instead of Gautama; after 30 are inserted Hasta of the Kâsyapa gotra and Dharma.

After these gâthâs follow five more, which are wanting in some MSS., and are not commented upon. The last (14th) gâthâ is p. 295 found in all MSS. It brings the list down to the president of the council of Valabhî. (The translation of the gâthâs ix-xiv is given in full in the text.)

295:1 The Sthaviras named in verses ix-xiii are probably not to be regarded as following each other in a continuous line, but rather as famous Sthaviras praised here for some reason or other (pûgârtham). At least the first, Gambû, seems to be the same with Gambû, the second of the list, who was also a Kâsyapa.