Sthulibhadra Acharya

Here is a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text about Acharya Sthulibhadra:

The text chronicles the life of Acharya Sthulibhadra, a prominent figure in Jainism.

Early Life and Renunciation:

Sthulibhadra was born in Magadha, a prosperous kingdom in Bihar, around 300 BCE. He was the son of Shaktal, a wise and experienced minister to King Dhananand. Despite his father's high position and his own intelligence and handsome appearance, Sthulibhadra lacked ambition. He became infatuated with Koshā, a renowned dancer in the capital city of Pataliputra. At the age of 18, Sthulibhadra abandoned his family and career to live with Koshā, completely neglecting his responsibilities. He even refused a high position offered by King Dhananand, which was instead given to his brother, Shreyak.

A Father's Sacrifice and Sthulibhadra's Awakening:

King Dhananand was a cruel ruler, and his subjects were dissatisfied. This led to growing distrust between the king and his ministers, Shaktal and Shreyak. To prove his loyalty to the king, Shaktal orchestrated his own death, instructing Shreyak to strike him down in the king's presence after Shaktal secretly ingested poison. Shreyak was reluctant to commit patricide, but his father convinced him that it was a necessary act to secure his future and prove their family's loyalty.

Upon learning of his father's tragic death, Sthulibhadra was profoundly shocked. After 12 years of living with Koshā, his eyes were opened to the futility of his choices. He realized that his youth had been wasted and that he had gained nothing. His father's death brought home the stark reality of mortality and led him to question the meaning and purpose of life. He understood that all worldly pleasures are fleeting and that physical enjoyment provides no lasting happiness.

The Path to Spirituality:

Renouncing Koshā and his past life, Sthulibhadra sought refuge with Acharya Sambhutivijaya. He expressed his desire to lead a meaningful life. Impressed by Sthulibhadra's mature and determined demeanor, Acharya Sambhutivijaya accepted him as a disciple, foreseeing his potential to do great work for the faith.

Sthulibhadra adapted quickly to his new spiritual path, dedicating himself to spiritual growth with great zeal. He became an exemplary monk, earning his guru's complete trust. He developed strong self-control and detachment from the world, completely forgetting Koshā.

The Test of Renunciation:

To test Sthulibhadra's spiritual progress and his detachment from Koshā, Acharya Sambhutivijaya allowed him and three other monks to undertake their Chaturmas (a four-month retreat during the monsoon season) in challenging circumstances. One monk chose to live near a lion's den, another near a snake's burrow, and a third by a well's edge. Sthulibhadra humbly requested permission to reside in Koshā's art studio for the Chaturmas.

Sthulibhadra went to Koshā and asked for permission to stay in her studio. Koshā was overjoyed to see him again after his long absence, having been deeply unhappy during his absence. Unaware of Sthulibhadra's intention to test his spiritual resolve, Koshā was determined to win him back. She used her dancing skills and captivating expressions to entice him, but Sthulibhadra remained steadfast in his spiritual focus. Despite Koshā's persistent efforts, all her attempts failed. She realized the true value of Sthulibhadra's spiritual life and became his disciple. This experience significantly advanced Sthulibhadra's spiritual development.

The Second Test and a Lesson Learned:

After the Chaturmas, the four monks reported their experiences to the Acharya. The Acharya was pleased with the first three monks' reports and congratulated them. When Sthulibhadra shared his experience, the Acharya rose from his seat, embraced him, and congratulated him for passing a most difficult test. The other three monks became envious, questioning why Sthulibhadra received such high praise for staying in comfort, while they had endured physical hardships. The Acharya explained that Sthulibhadra had accomplished the impossible, something others could not.

The next year, one of the other monks, boasting of his spiritual prowess, declared he would easily spend the Chaturmas at Koshā's. The Acharya, knowing this was beyond his capability, advised against it, but the monk insisted on proving his superiority. The Acharya reluctantly granted permission.

The monk went to Koshā's residence. The art studio, adorned with erotic paintings, served as a constant provocation. Upon seeing the beautiful Koshā, his remaining restraint vanished, and he became consumed by desire for her. Koshā, having witnessed Sthulibhadra's virtuous life, understood the value of renunciation. To test the monk's sincerity, she set a condition: he had to bring her a jewel-studded velvet carpet from Nepal, a 250-mile journey north of Pataliputra.

Despite the restriction on travel during Chaturmas, the love-crazed monk forgot his vows. He endured numerous hardships to reach Nepal, pleased the king, and obtained the precious carpet. Confident that Koshā would now accept his love, he returned. Koshā took the valuable carpet, wiped her feet with it, and threw it into the mud. The monk was stunned and asked Koshā if she was mad for discarding such a precious gift. Koshā replied, "Why are you squandering your monkhood, which you attained through great effort and penance?" The humbled monk realized his grave mistake and returned to the Acharya to confess his failure. From that day on, his respect for Sthulibhadra became immense.

Preservation of Jain Scriptures:

In later times, Sthulibhadra played a crucial role in preserving the ancient Jain scriptures, including the twelve Angas of the Agamas and the fourteen Purvas. According to Jain history, after Acharya Sambhutivijaya, Acharya Bhadrabahu was the last Acharya to possess complete knowledge of the Jain scriptures. Both were disciples of Acharya Yashobhadra.

During that era, Jain scriptures were memorized and transmitted orally from guru to disciple, as writing religious texts was considered a form of possession (parigraha), which was prohibited for monks who adhered to the five great vows. Under the guidance of Acharya Bhadrabahu, Sthulibhadra orally mastered eleven of the twelve Angas.

A severe famine struck during this period. Due to the famine, Sthulibhadra could not study the twelfth Agama, known as the "Drishtivada," which contained the fourteen Purvas. During the famine, Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami migrated to South India with his disciples. Acharya Sthulibhadra remained in Pataliputra as the head monk of the remaining ascetics. The difficult famine conditions made it challenging for the monks to adhere to their vows, and their memory began to fade, leading to the forgetting of the Angas.

Reconvening the Scriptures:

After the twelve-year famine, Sthulibhadra decided to convene a great assembly to recompile the Agamas from those monks who still remembered them. This religious assembly was held in Pataliputra under the leadership of Acharya Sthulibhadra. During this assembly, eleven out of the twelve Agamas were orally reconstructed. However, no monk could recall the twelfth Agama and its fourteen Purvas. Only Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami possessed this knowledge, but he had moved to South India and was then in the mountainous region of Nepal, engaged in intense penance and meditation.

The Jain Sangha requested Acharya Sthulibhadra and other learned Jain monks to go to Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami and request him to help reconstruct the twelfth Agama. Due to the arduous journey, only Sthulibhadra among many monks reached Nepal. He began learning the twelfth Agama and its fourteen Purvas from Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami.

A Test of Spiritual Power and its Consequences:

Once, Sthulibhadra's ascetic sisters came to visit him in Nepal. By this time, Sthulibhadra had learned ten of the fourteen Purvas. He wanted to demonstrate the miraculous knowledge gained from these scriptures. He sat in a cave and, using his newfound power, transformed into a lion. When his ascetic sisters entered the cave to pay their respects, Bhadrabahu Swami understood what had happened and asked them to return to the cave to meet his brother. This time, Sthulibhadra was in his original form. The sisters were overjoyed to see him well.

Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami was disappointed to learn that Sthulibhadra had misused his spiritual power for a trivial matter. He felt Sthulibhadra was not yet mature enough for such powers and refused to teach him the remaining four Purvas. A chastened Sthulibhadra pleaded earnestly to be taught, but Bhadrabahu Swami remained firm.

The Jain Sangha implored Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami to reconsider his decision and teach Sthulibhadra the remaining four Purvas. He then laid down two conditions: he would not teach Sthulibhadra the meaning of the last four Purvas, and Sthulibhadra would not be allowed to teach them to any other monk. Sthulibhadra accepted the conditions and learned the remaining four Purvas.

Legacy:

The text concludes by emphasizing that Sthulibhadra's contribution to preserving the Jain scriptures orally during the famine will forever be remembered with great respect in Jain history. Followers of the Shvetambara sect still mention Sthulibhadra's name immediately after Lord Mahavir and Gautam Swami, signifying his immense importance. The concluding verses praise Lord Vira, Gautam Prabhu, and Acharya Sthulibhadra, wishing auspiciousness to Jainism.

The summary highlights that regardless of age, one can transform a failed life into a successful one with a noble goal and unwavering determination. Sthulibhadra, who had wasted twelve years of his life, achieved spiritual success through strong willpower, conquering his inner enemies and abandoning worldly desires. He became a great Jain monk whose name is still revered with devotion today.