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Introduction
CXLVII
uncommon intelligence begged him of his father. He was taught all the Kalās (arts) and Vidyās (sciences). From the learned assembly of Bhīma, he got the titles “Kavīndra” (A king of poets) and Vādichakrin (A king of dialecticians). Dhanapāla-the famous man of letters of Dhārā-got his Tilakamanjarī critically examined by Sāntyāchārya at the suggestion of his Guru Mahendraşūri. Dhanapāla personally went to Anahillapura to make the request. He was astonished to see the high level of intelligence of a pupil of Santisūri whom he wanted to take to Dhārā. Santisūri replied : “ He has yet to study the difficult Pramāņaşāstras. He should not be taken away from his studies". At the request of Dhanapāla and with the permission of Bhīma, Santisūri went to Dhārā as a representative of Gurjaradesa. He was very well received by Bhoja. There he critically went through the Tilakamanjarī – kathā and wrote a Tippaņa on the work which exists in a manuscript form.
Bhoja in order to see the intellectual powers of this Svetabhikshu of Gurjaradesa offered him a lac of rupees for every Vādin (dialectician ) that he defeated. Sāntisūri defeated eighty-four of them and got the title Vādivetāla from Bhoja in addition to the promised sum of money which he spent in building temples. Säntisūri was a Chaityavāsin.
Abhayadevasūri-the author of that big commentary · on the Sanmatitarka of Siddhasena Divākara known as Vadamahārņava was Sāntisūri's teacher. *
This Sāntisūri had thirty-two students studying pramāṇaşāstra under him. It appears that Buddhist logic was also taught there and regarded as very difficult
* See further on.
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