Acharya Haribhadra Suri
Haribhadra was born somewhere in sixth century A.D. and was a very learned scholar in almost all religions. He knew much about philosophy and was a master debater. Haribhadra had the talent of knowing his opponents point of argument extremely fast and could come up with a defeating reply. At the time it was a normal practice for scholars to debate each other as they traveled throughout the country. So whenever Haribhadra met them he’d debate them and defeat them all. It was not before long when no one was wanting to debate with him for fear of losing the debate. This lead Haribhadra to feel that there was no equal to him and he could discuss anything anyone could come up with. He then made a public challenge that if someone could challenge him in something he did not understand he would become their pupil. One day while he was traveling a wild elephant was charging towards him and he ran into a Jain temple for safety. When he was looking around the Jain temple he looked at it in disrespect with no regard for the religion. Because of this disregard he was not knowledgeable of the Jain philosophy. At that time it was that most Brahmins were staunch Shaivatees (followers of Bhagwan Shiva of Hinduism) and looked down at Jain places of worship. When he saw the idol of Mahavir he only saw his stomach and thought it did not appear slim like a austere saint. Then he recited the following:
“Vapurevatavachashte spashtam mishtann-bhojitamit”
“Your stomach clearly indicates you enjoy eating sweet foods”
After the elephant left the area he came out and was passing by a Upashray of Jain nuns that was in the middle of reciting chants by the nuns. When he heard this phrase by Yakhini Mahattra
Chakkidugam Haripanagam Panagam Chakki Ya Kesavo Chakki, Kesav Chakki Kesav Du Chakki Kesi Ya Chakki Ya.
The phrase the nun was reciting was to how many thirtankars, vasu-devs, prativasudev and balrams are born in each cycle of the Jain Avsirpini and Uvsarpini cycle. When Haribhadra heard this and could not understand what was being said he knew he had found a subject which he did not fully comprehend. While there was a bit of arrogance in him he was a man of his word and decided to bow to the nun and become a disciple of the nun. The nun explained him she could not accept him as a pupil because he was male. That he needed to go to her guru Jinabhattasuri and he would explain the verse. So he went to her guru and asked to become his pupil. Jinabhattasuri said he would accept only if he could get the consent of his family members. This was not going to be an easy ordeal as his family said he was a great debater and why he would want to give that up to become a Jain monk. His family asked who he would be if he was not debating anymore. He simply explained he had to become a Jain monk or his knowledge would be incomplete and he must adhere to his decision. It was approved by the family and he became the disciple of Jinabhattasuri. He studied the agamas and all relevant Jain scriptures and was given the title Acharya by Jinabhattasuri.
Haribhadra suri had two disciples, Hans and Paramhans, these two were also his sister’s sons. The two disciples wanted to get permission to go to a Buddhist’s monastery to learn the weak points of their religion so they could defeat them in a debate. Haribhadra suri was against this idea. He would not grant them permission to do such a thing. Then after the persistence of Hans Paramhans they secured Haribhadra’s permission. They went to debate with them and dressed as Buddhist monks but they were soon revealed of who they actually were. They decided to leave but died while being chased by the Buddhist monks. The mental shock he felt from the loss of his great disciples was too much to bear. His anger took over and he decided to have a debate between him and the Buddhist monks (bodh bikshs). Haribhadra suri won the debate and decided to burn all 1444 disciples in boiling hot oil as if they were a food. When his guru, Jinabhattasuri, learned of what he was about to do he was shocked. He quickly wrote a stanza and gave it to Yakhini Mahattara. She went to him and the letter said the following: “Think about what you are about to do. If you do this with the amount of people who looked up to you what kind of example will you set for them? What kind of example would you set for future generations? What would happen to your soul if you did such a horrible act?” Then he realized the act he was going to commit was unacceptable and he immediately stopped his plan. Though how could he wash the sin of the mere thought of killing these 1444 monks? He sat quietly constantly thinking of this act and about his two disciples. Then his guru asks, “Why have you become so quiet? You were giving lectures to people on how to live their lives in a more spiritual way and now nothing?” Haribhadra replied, “The shock of losing my two disciples is something i just can’t forget.” His guru then explains to him that even
though they died in a horrible it was inevitable that one day they would die. That when our time is up we must leave this world. If you want to do something about do something where their memory last for thousands of years! Haribhadra asked what he could do? His guru says you thought about boil 1444 bodh bhiksh and you want to cleanse your soul of this sin you committed with your thoughts. His guru told him to write 1444 granths and the sins of burning the 1444 bodh bikshs would be quashed. So he began writing day and night to finish these 1444 granths. Then as he was nearing the end of completing them his health severely deteriorated. He becomes so sick that he is unable to complete the composition he has made his life goal. Then while lying in bed he thinks where would his soul go because he won’t be able to finish the books and tears roll down his face. His disciples see this and say “Guru! In all this time we have never seen you cry and today you have tears in your eyes why?!” He says I was to write 1444 granths and i have only completed 1440 so the other 4 I can’t complete. His disciples told him not to worry that his wish would be fulfilled they will finish them for him if he just tells them what to write. So he begins reciting the final four granths. After 3 were completed he starts the last granth and in the middle of saying the phrase he dies. The entire sangh decides this will not stand his granth must be completed before we light the pyre for his funeral. Now who can finish the phrase only 1 line has been written and another 3 are needed to complete the granth? So they all got together and wrote the 3 lines need to complete it. That is why even today when this lecture is being given the guru says all the lines by himself and the last 3 lines everyone in the sangh says it together starting with Jhankara.