First
Ganadharas
The first religious conference called ‘Samavasarana' at
which the master gave his first sermon was held on the bank of river
Ujjuvaliya (Rjubalika). This discourse remained unfruitful in the sense
that nobody came forth to take Samnyasa. However, the second discourse at
Pava was most successful. As we shall notice hereafter Indrabhuti Gautam
had a debate with the master on the existence of ‘self'. As he was
satisfied he became the first disciple of note. His hundred of pupils also
became Mahavira's disciples. Story of Indrabhuti's conversion went round
with the result that ten other Brahmins learned in Vedas came to the
master and had discourses with him on various subjects, now forming core
of Jainism. They all became his disciples. These eleven are called
Ganadharas as they were appointed as the first heads of different groups
of monks. Mahavira survived all of then except the first Ganadhara
Indrabhuti Gautam and the fifth one Sudharma. It is significant that all
these first principal disciples were Brahmins of great repute and learning
which shows that the silent ideological revolution had already started in
the intelligentsia of the time.
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Philosophy
