In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: HereNow4u: Lord Śrī Mahāvīra

Metārya (मेतार्य) is the name of the tenth gaṇadhara (group-leader) of Mahāvīra.—Metārya was a resident of Tuṅgika province in Vatsadeśa and was a Brahmin of Kauṇinya gotra. His mother’s name was Varūṇādevī and his father’s name was Datta. He had a doubt about rebirth. Impressed by Lord Mahāvīra’s answer, he, along with his 300 disciples, too initiation at the age of 36 years. He spent 10 years as a mendicant and attained pure knowledge. After remaining a kevalī for 16 years, he attained nirvāṇa at Guṇaśīla caitya in the lifetime of the Lord at the age of 62.

All these gaṇadharas (for example, Metārya) were Brahmins by caste and Vedic scholars. After taking initiation, they all studied the 11 Aṅgas. Hence, all of them had the knowledge of the 14 pūrvas and possessed special attainments (labdhis).

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

1) Metārya (मेतार्य) or Metāryakathā refers to one of the 157 stories embedded in the Kathāmahodadhi by Somacandra (narrating stories from Jain literature, based on the Karpūraprakara), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—The Kathāmahodadhi represents a repository of 157 stories [e.g., Metārya-kathā] written in prose Sanskrit, although each of them is preceded by a verse. Together, they stage a large number of Jain characters (including early teachers). [...]

2) Metārya (मेतार्य) is the name of an ancient Jain Hero (who followed Mahāvīra’s example), according to the Samatārasa manuscript (dealing with the Ethics section of Jain Canonical literature).—The Samatārasa, composed in VS 1861 (1804 CE) praises the taste of equanimity (samatārasa) illustrated by Mahāvīra and traditional heroes who followed his example such as Gajasukumāla (vs. 6), Metārya (8), Sukosala (10), Khandhakamuni (11). They all held to asceticism and remained unshaken in front of various tortures and are thus celebrated as Jain martyrs.

3) Metārya (मेतार्य) is the name of an ancient Monk, according to the Metāryaṛṣisajjhāya by Sumatiratna Paṇḍita (dealing with the lives of Jain teachers).—The story of the monk Metārya is well-known since the Āvaśyaka-literature (Niryukti 869-870; cūrṇi pp. 492-495, etc.; see Balbir, Āvaśyaka-Studien: 152 for more references). He belongs to Jain martyrs as he preferred to be accused of a theft and to suffer tortures leading to death, out of compassion for living beings, rather than declaring that a crane was the one who stole jewels. He embodies sāmāyika and has the status of a Ṛṣi (identified with Metejja-Bhayāli of the Isibhāsiyāiṃ).

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Metārya (मेतार्य):—m. (with Jainas) Name of one of the eleven Gaṇādhipas, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Metārya (मेतार्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Meajja.

[Sanskrit to German]

Metarya in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Metaryakatha, Metaryarishisajjhaya, Metaryarshi.

Full-text: Mevarya, Meajja, Datta, Varunadevi, Metaryarishisajjhaya, Metaryarshi, Sumatiratna, Kshamachatrisi, Sukosala, Samatarasa, Khandhaka-muni, Ganadhara, Gajasukumala.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Metarya, Metārya; (plurals include: Metaryas, Metāryas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 5: Founding of Mahāvīra’s congregation and gaṇas < [Chapter V - Mahāvīra’s omniscience and the originating of the fourfold congregation]

Part 4: Conversion of the Gautamas and other Brāhmans < [Chapter V - Mahāvīra’s omniscience and the originating of the fourfold congregation]

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Kalpa-sutra (Lives of the Jinas) (by Hermann Jacobi)

List of the Sthaviras

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