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113
I received a letter from Premiji on the date mentioned. Uma Swati is a descendant of Kundakunda; I do not have even the slightest trust in this matter. This lineage conception is from a time when commentaries such as Tattvarthasutra, Sarvarthasiddhi, Shloka Vartika, and Rajavartika had already been completed, and the Digambar sect had fully accepted these texts for themselves. I have not yet found any mentions regarding this in references prior to the tenth century. My belief is that the great scholars of the Digambar sect who have written texts are mostly linked to some monastery or seat of authority; however, those who have made a Guru-navali or Pattaavali are filled with this idea that any Acharya or author is connected to some authority of a seat. Therefore, they have taken the liberty of declaring all those scholars before them as misled and have made them Patta-dharas. They were unaware that Uma Swati and Kundakunda existed at different times; however, since they were great and ancient Acharyas, their relation was established, and they became either Guru-disciple or disciple-Guru. This realization did not cause them any trouble, as Kundakunda was a resident of the village Kandakunda in Karnataka, and Uma Swati traveled in Bihar. The concept of their connection is also somewhat improbable.
In ancient texts such as Shrutavataara, Aadipurana, Harivanshapurana, and Jabuldeepprapti, the ancient Acharya tradition is established.