Samantabhadra (Jain monk)

Acharya Shri 108 Samantabhadra Ji Maharaj

Samantabhadra

Digambar acharya
Religion Jainism
Sect Digambara
Personal
Born 2nd century CE
Religious career
Works Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra, Āpta-mīmāṁsā, Jinaśatakam

Samantabhadra was a Digambara acharya (head of the monastic order) who lived about the later part of the second century A.D.[1][2] He was a great proponent of the Jaina doctrine of Anekantavada. The Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra is the most popular work of Acharya Samantabhadra. Acharya Samantabhadra lived after Acharya Umaswami but before Acharya Pujyapada.

Life

Samantabhadra is said to have lived from 450 CE to 550 CE. He was from southern India during the time of Chola dynasty. He was a poet, logician, eulogist and an accomplished linguist.[3] He is credited with spreading Jainism in southern India.[4]

Disease

Acharya Samantabhadra, in his early stage of asceticism, was attacked with a disease known as bhasmaka (the condition of insatiable hunger).[5] As, digambara monks don't eat more than once in a day, he endured great pain. Ultimately, he sought the permission of his preceptor to undertake the vow of Sallekhana.[6] The preceptor denied the permission and asked him to leave Jain monasticism and get the disease cured.[5] After getting cured he again joined the monastic order and became a great Jain Acharya.[7]

Works

English translation of the Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra (1917) by Champat Rai Jain

Jain texts authored by Acharya Samantabhadra are:[8]

Praise

Acharya Jinasena, in his celebrated work, Ādi purāṇa praises the Acharya Samantabhadra as[16]

“ Acharya Samantrabhadra’s glory reigned supreme among all poets, scholars, disputants, and preachers; he was like a jewel on their heads. ”

References

Sources

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