Part 5: Founding of Mahāvīra’s congregation and gaṇas

Now, Candanā, living in Śatānīka’s house there, seeing the gods coming and going in the sky, longing for the vow from the certainty of the manifestation of the Master’s omniscience, was led to Śrī Vīra’s assembly by gods in the vicinity. After circumambulating and bowing to the Lord, she stood near him for the sake of initiation, and many other daughters of kings and ministers also. The Lord himself initiated them and put Candanā at the head of them; and established thousands of men and women as lay-disciples.

When the fourfold congregation had thus been created, the Lord recited the three steps—permanence, origination, and perishing—to Indrabhūti and the others. The Ācārāṅga, Sūtrakṛta, Sthānāṅga, Samavāya, Bhagavatyaṅga, the fifth, Jñātadharmakathā, the Upāsakadaśā, Antakṛddaśā, Anuttaropapātikādaśā, Praśnavyākaraṇa, Vipākaśruta, and Dṛṣṭivāda were composed by them from the three steps and the fourteen pūrvas were composed in the Dṛṣṭivāda. The Utpāda, Agrāyaṇīya, Vīryapravāda, Astināstipravāda, Jñānapravāda, Satyapravāda, Ātmapravāda, Karmapravāda, Pratyākhyāna, Vidyāpravāda, Kalyāṇaka, Prāṇāvāya, Kriyāviśāla and Lokabindusāra were the fourteen pūrvas. Because these fourteen were composed by the gaṇadharas before the aṅgas, they were named pūrvas. The teachings of the sūtras of seven gaṇadharas composing in this way became different from each other. The teachings of Akampita and Acalabhrātṛ were like each other; and those of Śrī Metārya and Prabhāsa. So, though there were eleven gaṇadharas of Lord Vīra, there were nine gaṇas because of the identity of the teaching of the two pairs.

Then, knowing it was the proper time, Vajrabhṛt (Śakra) arose, took a dish filled with fragrant, choice sandal-powder and stood at the Master’s side. They stood in a line with Indrabhūti at the head, awaiting the Master’s orders, their heads slightly bowed. Saying, “The congregation has been instructed in regard to the substances, qualities, and modifications,” the Master threw the powder on Gautama's head first. The Master threw the powder on the others’ heads in turn; and the gods, delighted, made showers of flowers and sandal-powder.

The Lord, having appointed Sudharman to be the head, saying, “Long-lived, he will illuminate dharma for a long time,” approved^[1] the gaṇa. At the same time the Master put Candanā at the head of the nuns for the sake of their striving after persistence in self-control.

The Lord stopped preaching at the end of the first three-hour period of the day. The oblation entered by the east door, carried by the king. The gods took half of the oblation thrown up in the air; the king took half of the half that fell and the people the rest.

Then the Lord of the World, arose and sat down on the dais, and Gautama, seated on the Master's foot-stool, delivered a sermon. At the end of the second three-hour period of the day, Gautama stopped preaching, like a new cloud from giving rain.

After he had passed several days occupied with universal benefit to every one, having enlightened the people, the Master wandered over the earth, his lotus-feet served by gods, asuras, and kings.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Cf. 1.3.665,1, p. 210.