Sthulabhadra

thumb|Sthulabhadra Sthulabhadra (297–198 BCE) was a Jain monk who lived during the 3rd century BCE. He was a disciple of Bhadrabahu and Sambhutavijaya. His father was Sakatala, a minister in Nanda kingdom before the arrival of Chandragupta Maurya. When his brother became the chief minister of the kingdom, Sthulabhadra became a Jain monk and succeeded Bhadrabahu in the Pattavali as per the writings of the Kalpa Sūtra. He is mentioned in the 12th-century Jain text Parisistaparvan (appendix to the Trisasti-shalakapurusa-caritra) by Hemachandra.

==Life== Sthulabhadra was a son of the Dhana Nanda's minister Sakatala and brother of Shrikaya. He is traditionally dated from 297 to 198 BCE. He loved and lived with a royal dancer in Dhana Nanda's court named Rupkosa. He denied ministry after the death of his father and became a Jain monk. His brother became the chief minister in Nanda empire later. He became a disciple of Sambhutavijaya (347-257 BCE) and Bhadrabahu (322-243 BCE). He led an ascetic life for 12 years. thumb|A diorama in Jain Museum of Madhuban depicting Sthulabhadra spending his chaturmas at Rupkosa's home, during which she tried to lure him away from ascetic life but failed.|center|301x301px