Monks and Acharyas
Bhadrabahu Swami
भद्रबाहु स्वामी · ભદ્રબાહુ સ્વામી
The last keeper of all the scriptures leads twelve thousand monks to the south
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- Best shared with a grown-up
- Digambar telling
Acharya Bhadrabahu was the last monk to hold all of Mahavir's teachings in his memory. When he foresaw a terrible famine, he made a brave decision that carried the Jain path to the south of India.
What it teaches Wisdom Foresight Steadfastness
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, after Bhagwan Mahavir, there lived a very wise monk named Bhadrabahu. He remembered all of Mahavir's teachings, every single word. He was the last monk who knew them all.
One day Bhadrabahu understood that a big problem was coming. For twelve years, very little rain would fall in the north. There would not be enough food for people, and the monks would find it hard to live by their gentle rules.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Thinking ahead for others, and walking far to protect what is precious, is a quiet kind of courage.
To talk about together
Why do you think Bhadrabahu chose to walk so far instead of staying where he was?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.