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Swayamprabhasuri
Swayamprabhasuri or Svayamprabhasuri was a Śvetāmbara Jain ascetic and the 5th successor in the lineage of the monastic heads of the Chaturvidha Sangha's (transl. four-fold congregation) Upkeśa Gaccha. He succeeded Keśiśramanācharya and is believed to have existed in 6th–5th century BC. He is known for establishing the Śrīmali and Porvāl clans.
Although not much is known about him, some non-canonical scriptures such as Ratnaprabhasuri's "Upkeśa Gaccha Caritra" (transl. Biography of the Upkeśa Gaccha) describe his ascetic life in detail and life before initiation into the Jain Sangha succinctly. As per scriptures of the Śvetāmbara sect, he is believed to have been born in the 6th century BC in a family belonging to the Vidyādhara clan.
He is believed to have been initiated by Keśiśramanācharya, the 4th pattadhār (transl. head of the monastic order) in the 23rd tirthankara Parshvanatha's lineage. Therefore, unlike most Jain ascetics today who trace their lineage to the 24th Tirthankara Mahavira, Swayamprabhasuri traces his ascetic ancestry to the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha.
According to Uttaradhyayana Sutra, an ancient canonical text of the Śvetāmbaras, it is believed that Keśiśramanācharya had a conversation with Mahavira's prime disciple Indrabhuti Gautama about the differences in the teachings of both the Tirthankaras. It is said that the disciples of Parshvanatha wore colored (usually dark-brown) clothes and those of Mahavira wore white clothes. It is such differences that Keśiśramanācharya came to discuss with Indrabhuti Gautama.
The text further states that upon receiving adequately satisfying answers from Indrabhuti Gautama, Keśiśramanācharya and all his disciples accepted the order of Mahavira and became white-clad mendicants. Later on, his lineage came to be known as the Upkeśa Gaccha. Even though it merged into Mahavira's Chaturvidha Sangha, this gaccha (transl. administrative sub-sect) always maintained its unique identity until its extinction in and around 1930 AD. Swayamprabhasuri was the successor of Keśiśramanācharya and the next head of the Upkeśa Gaccha.
He is said to have been well-versed with the Dvādaśāṅga (transl. 12 aṅgas) and the 14 purvas of the Jain canon. Today, the 14 purvas are considered to have been lost along with the rest of the text of the 12th aṅga Drstivada. He is, therefore, considered to have known the complete canon, making him one of the Śrut Kevalīs. Since he knew the 14 purvas, he is considered to have been a Purvadhāri as well. Since he was born in the Vidyādhara clan, he is also said to have known several of the magical rituals (or vidyās) that members of the Vidyādhara clan knew.
Scriptures describing his life mention that he headed the congregation of 'several thousands' of ascetics (which is said to have been only Parshvanatha's congregation and their work is separately acknowledged from Mahavira's followers) and helped eliminate violent practices of animal sacrifice in the name of religion, especially the rituals of Shaktism.
Scriptural accounts of his life describe his visit to Rajasthan 57 years after Mahavira's nirvana which was in 527 BCE. This would date his visit to Śrīmal in 470 BCE. Most of the non-canonical texts of the Śvetāmbara sect agree upon this account and describe him as one of the first few Jain monks to visit Rajasthan. Following is a brief scriptural account of the establishment of the Śrīmali clan by Swayamprabhasuri.
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Swayamprabhasuri
Swayamprabhasuri or Svayamprabhasuri was a Śvetāmbara Jain ascetic and the 5th successor in the lineage of the monastic heads of the Chaturvidha Sangha's (transl. four-fold congregation) Upkeśa Gaccha. He succeeded Keśiśramanācharya and is believed to have existed in 6th–5th century BC. He is known for establishing the Śrīmali and Porvāl clans.
Although not much is known about him, some non-canonical scriptures such as Ratnaprabhasuri's "Upkeśa Gaccha Caritra" (transl. Biography of the Upkeśa Gaccha) describe his ascetic life in detail and life before initiation into the Jain Sangha succinctly. As per scriptures of the Śvetāmbara sect, he is believed to have been born in the 6th century BC in a family belonging to the Vidyādhara clan.
He is believed to have been initiated by Keśiśramanācharya, the 4th pattadhār (transl. head of the monastic order) in the 23rd tirthankara Parshvanatha's lineage. Therefore, unlike most Jain ascetics today who trace their lineage to the 24th Tirthankara Mahavira, Swayamprabhasuri traces his ascetic ancestry to the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha.
According to Uttaradhyayana Sutra, an ancient canonical text of the Śvetāmbaras, it is believed that Keśiśramanācharya had a conversation with Mahavira's prime disciple Indrabhuti Gautama about the differences in the teachings of both the Tirthankaras. It is said that the disciples of Parshvanatha wore colored (usually dark-brown) clothes and those of Mahavira wore white clothes. It is such differences that Keśiśramanācharya came to discuss with Indrabhuti Gautama.
The text further states that upon receiving adequately satisfying answers from Indrabhuti Gautama, Keśiśramanācharya and all his disciples accepted the order of Mahavira and became white-clad mendicants. Later on, his lineage came to be known as the Upkeśa Gaccha. Even though it merged into Mahavira's Chaturvidha Sangha, this gaccha (transl. administrative sub-sect) always maintained its unique identity until its extinction in and around 1930 AD. Swayamprabhasuri was the successor of Keśiśramanācharya and the next head of the Upkeśa Gaccha.
He is said to have been well-versed with the Dvādaśāṅga (transl. 12 aṅgas) and the 14 purvas of the Jain canon. Today, the 14 purvas are considered to have been lost along with the rest of the text of the 12th aṅga Drstivada. He is, therefore, considered to have known the complete canon, making him one of the Śrut Kevalīs. Since he knew the 14 purvas, he is considered to have been a Purvadhāri as well. Since he was born in the Vidyādhara clan, he is also said to have known several of the magical rituals (or vidyās) that members of the Vidyādhara clan knew.
Scriptures describing his life mention that he headed the congregation of 'several thousands' of ascetics (which is said to have been only Parshvanatha's congregation and their work is separately acknowledged from Mahavira's followers) and helped eliminate violent practices of animal sacrifice in the name of religion, especially the rituals of Shaktism.
Scriptural accounts of his life describe his visit to Rajasthan 57 years after Mahavira's nirvana which was in 527 BCE. This would date his visit to Śrīmal in 470 BCE. Most of the non-canonical texts of the Śvetāmbara sect agree upon this account and describe him as one of the first few Jain monks to visit Rajasthan. Following is a brief scriptural account of the establishment of the Śrīmali clan by Swayamprabhasuri.