Gandhar Gautam Swami

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Gandhar Gautam Swami" in English:

The book "Gandhar Gautam Swami" by the JAINA Education Committee recounts the life and spiritual journey of Indrabhuti Gautam, who became the chief disciple of Bhagawan Mahavir and is revered as Gautam Swami.

The narrative begins with Indrabhuti Gautam, a renowned Brahmin scholar, living with his father Vasubhuti and mother Prithvi Gautam in Gobar, Magadha. He, along with his two brothers, Indrabhuti and Agnibhuti, were highly learned in the Vedas and performed Hindu rituals. Each of them had 500 disciples.

The story then shifts to a grand sacrificial ceremony (Yajna) organized by Somil, a Brahmin in the city of Apapā. Indrabhuti Gautam was the chief priest. During the ceremony, celestial beings were observed descending from heaven. Indrabhuti initially believed they were there to bless his ritual. However, he soon learned that the celestial beings were heading towards the Mahasen forest to pay homage to Bhagawan Mahavir, who had just attained Keval-jnän (omniscience) and was about to deliver his first sermon in Ardha Magadhi-Prakrit, the language of common people.

Enraged that the celestial beings did not acknowledge his ritual and disdainful of Mahavir's use of a common language instead of Sanskrit, Indrabhuti decided to challenge Mahavir to a debate to prove his intellectual superiority. Accompanied by his 500 disciples, he went to Mahavir. Mahavir, demonstrating his omniscience, greeted Indrabhuti by name and understood his underlying doubt about the existence of the soul (Ātmā). Mahavir explained the existence and eternity of the soul, providing correct interpretations of the Vedas. This profound knowledge and insight into his doubts and scriptures left Indrabhuti stunned. He realized the incompleteness of his own knowledge, felt awakened, and became Mahavir's first and chief disciple at the age of fifty, subsequently being known as Gautam Swami.

Meanwhile, the other ten prominent scholars who were present at Somil's Yajna, along with their disciples, also went to debate Mahavir after learning about Indrabhuti's conversion. They too became Mahavir's disciples. Somil, disheartened, canceled the ceremony. These eleven scholars became known as the eleven Ganadhars, the principal disciples of Lord Mahavir.

The book then highlights Gautam Swami's life as a Jain monk, observing austerities and the five great vows. In one incident, Gautam Swami visited Anand Shravak, a Jain layman who had attained Avadhi-jnän (clairvoyant knowledge) through severe penance. Anand, though weak, welcomed Gautam Swami. When asked about his knowledge, Anand stated he could see as high as the first heaven and as low as the first hell. Gautam Swami, believing a layman couldn't attain such a level, advised Anand to perform Prayashchitta (atonement) for what he perceived as a false claim. Anand politely questioned whether one needs to repent for speaking the truth. Puzzled, Gautam Swami sought clarification from Bhagawan Mahavir. Mahavir confirmed Anand's statement and admonished Gautam Swami for doubting him, emphasizing the importance of truth. Gautam Swami immediately sought forgiveness from Anand.

Another significant event described is Gautam Swami's visit to Mount Ashtapad. He encountered fifteen hundred hermits struggling to climb the mountain. Impressed by his ability to complete the difficult ascent, they decided to become his disciples. Gautam Swami preached true religion and penance to them, accepting them as Jain monks. He then miraculously fed all fifteen hundred hermits a rice pudding (Kheer) from a small bowl using his special power, Akshin-mahānasi Labdhi (non-diminishing power).

The text then focuses on Gautam Swami's path to Keval-jnän. Despite many of his disciples and the other Ganadhars attaining omniscience, Gautam Swami was still waiting. He expressed his worry to Mahavir, who explained that his deep affection and attachment to Mahavir himself were hindering his spiritual progress. Mahavir advised that to attain Keval-jnän, one must overcome all attachments, including attachment to a beloved Guru.

On the day Mahavir was to attain Nirvana, he sent Gautam Swami to a village to preach. Upon returning, Gautam Swami learned of Mahavir's Nirvana and was overcome with shock and sorrow, regretting being sent away. He felt his hope of attaining Keval-jnän was lost. However, within moments, he realized his error in attachment and the impermanence of relationships. Through deep contemplation, he shed his attachment to Mahavir, destroyed his Ghati Karmas, and attained Keval-jnän at the age of eighty. He attained Nirvana at ninety-two in 515 B.C. Interestingly, Mahavir attained Nirvana on Deepavali, the last day of the Jain and Hindu calendar, while Gautam Swami attained Keval-jnän on the first day of the New Year.

The book concludes by reiterating Gautam Swami's journey from a learned Brahmin to a devoted disciple. It emphasizes his humility in accepting Mahavir's superior knowledge, his repentance for doubting Anand Shravak, and his paramount position as Mahavir's chief disciple. The primary reason for his delayed attainment of omniscience was his attachment to Mahavir, which he finally overcame through detachment, leading to his spiritual enlightenment. Jainism teaches that all passions, including attachment, must be relinquished to achieve omniscience.