Life of Mahavir
Gautam Swami
गौतम स्वामी · ગૌતમ સ્વામી
The proud scholar who became the humblest disciple
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
The most famous scholar in Magadh sets out to defeat a wandering teacher in debate, and the meeting begins a bond that will test him to the very last night of Mahavir's life.
What it teaches Humility Devotion Non-attachment
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, in the land of Magadh, lived a great scholar named Indrabhuti Gautam. He knew the Vedas by heart, and five hundred students followed him wherever he went. He was very learned, and also a little proud.
One day, at a big fire ceremony, the sky filled with light. Heavenly beings were flying overhead! Everyone thought they were coming to the ceremony. But they flew right past, to a grove where a monk named Mahavir had just gained perfect knowledge. Indrabhuti thought, "Who is this monk? I will go and win a debate against him."
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Even love must learn to let go.
To talk about together
Gautam Swami walked to Anand's house to say sorry. Why is it sometimes harder to apologise to someone younger or less important than us?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.