________________
CCLXXII
Kavyanusasana
After spending the night in her praises, in the morning Somachandra returned to his upāsaya - place of residence. Thus Soma became a Siddha - Sārasvata without any trouble" (Vs. 37-46). Then Soma was made a Sūri ( 48 - 59 ).
Jina mandana in his Ku-prabandha describes a similar event with more mystifying details.
Devachandra - the guru of Hemachandra-was no doubt a learned man. But the question is whether he alone could have taught the various branches of learning whose mastery Hemachandra reveals in his works. Stambhatīrtha or Cambay, where Hemachandra appears to have passed his early years, was, no doubt, then an important port of India, and must have ample facilities for acquiring learning. But it is nowhere referred to as a centre of learning in the way Anahillapura is. It is likely that Somachandra might have studied for some time in Anahillapura, but we have no information to that effect.
The reference to Kāsmīravāsinī goddess, seems to me, to be of some significance. Somachandra, no doubt, wanted to go to Kasmīra for further study. We know from Bilhana what a great centre of learning Kasmira was in those days. But as the journey to Kāsmira was, in those days, full of danger, the young scholar was advised not to go there. The appearance of the Kasmira - väsinī goddess may be interpreted as suggesting that Hemachandra had something to do with Kasmira in matters of study.
We know from Bilhana's sojourn in Aşahillapura that Pandįtas from that land of Sāradā - as Kāsmira was called - used to come to Gujarāta. In the Assembly
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
