________________
LXXVI
Kavyanusasana
(= modern Vadanagara ) are conspicuous in the grants. The great Bhattikāvya - a veritable literary feat - which appears to have been the model of Hemachandra's Dvyāşraya kāvya - was composed at Valabhi. This is merely a single literary remain which is, however, suggestive of a vast literary activity. This inference would appear right if we remember that the kings of Valabhi themselves are described as very learned. One of them Dhruvasena II is specially described as proficient in the science of Sālāturiya - that is -the Grammer of Pāṇini, and the Science of Polity.
Of the existence of Jaina learning, evidences are not wanting. We saw that in the beginning of the Maitraka rule Valabhi was the scene of a great Jaina scriptural activity. Under the supervision of Devardhigaņi the whole Jaina canon was redacted to its present form. In fact this is one of the greatest events in Jaina history. We may also here refer to Mallavādin one of the greatest of Jaina dialecticians and the author of Nayachakra. According to the Prabhāvaka. charita Malla was the youngest of the three brothers - the name of the other two being Jitayaşas or Jinayasas and Yaksha who lived in Valabhi with their mother whose name was Durlabhadevī. They had a maternal uncle who was a Şvetāmbara Jaina monk and was known as Jinananda Sūrī. He was defeated by a Buddhist monk named Nanda or Buddhānanda in a public controversy at Bhrgukachchha (Broach). He left that city and came to Valabhi where he made his nephew his disciples. All the three received high learning at Valabhi and became great masters of Sāstras. Jitayaşas wrote a Nyasa - a sort of commentary - on a work of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
