Monks and Acharyas
Ganadhar Sudharma Swami
गणधर सुधर्मा स्वामी · ગણધર સુધર્મા સ્વામી
The great scholar who asked one question, and became the voice that carried Mahavir's words
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
Sudharma was a proud and learned Brahmin teacher with five hundred students and one secret doubt. When he met Bhagwan Mahavir, that doubt became the doorway to a new life, and to a duty that would shape Jain teaching for every generation after.
What it teaches Seeking truth Humility Passing on knowledge
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago there lived a very clever teacher called Sudharma. He knew so many books by heart, and five hundred students followed him and learned from him.
But Sudharma had one secret question that he never told anyone. He wondered, 'If I am a person now, will I always be born as a person? And will an animal always be born as an animal?' He thought a great teacher should know everything, so he kept his question hidden.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
An honest question is the beginning of truth, and faithful sharing keeps truth alive.
To talk about together
Is there a question you have been afraid to ask? Who could you ask it to?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.