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## Introduction
25
This provides an introduction to the compassionate hearts of those who are inclined towards the welfare of others, and their high ideals such as clarity of vision, affection for the scriptures, and guidance on the path. (c) Explanations of the Devagama:
Above, some introduction to the Devagama and its subject matter has been given. Now, an attempt is made to introduce its explanations.
There are three available explanations of the Devagama: 1. Devagama-Vivriti (Ashta-Shathi-Bhashya), 2. Devagama-Alankar (Apta-Mimamsa-Alankar-Ashta-Sahasri), and 3. Devagama-Vritti. 1. Devagama-Vivriti:
Its author is Ao. Akalanka Dev. This is the oldest and most difficult explanation available of the Devagama. The concluding verses found at the end of the chapters, in which its Apta-Mimamsa is found,
1. Ao. Vidyānanda, at the end of the Ashta-Sahasri, before the concluding benediction of Ao. Akalanka Dev, has given a concluding benediction verse of a commentator of the Devagama with the words 'Kechit' (some). From this, it appears that before Akalanka Dev, there was an explanation of the Devagama by some Acharya, which was available to Vidyānanda or he had knowledge of it, and from that, he has given the mentioned concluding benediction verse. Laghu-Samantbhadra (13th century CE) has mentioned in the Ashta-Sahasri-Tippana (101) that Vadisinha explained the Devagama (Apta-Mimamsa). But that is also unavailable today. Considering the importance and fame of the Devagama, it is not surprising that various commentaries and annotations were written on it in different times. Akalanka Dev, in the Ashta-Shathi (commentary on verse 33), has used the words 'Patha-Antar-Midam Bahu Sangrihitam Bhavati' (This variant reading is collected from many sources), clearly indicating the variant readings of the Devagama and its many explanations.