Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

SR No.: 001605
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 334
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 21 MB

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coming out of the pond he resolved to defeat the Buddhists and promote Jainism.
He went to Ratnasañcayapura in Kalinga State. The Jain queen of that kingdom wanted to take out the Jina image in procession during the Aștānhikā festival. The Buddhist queen also wanted to take out the image of the Buddha in procession. In order to resolve the dispute about which procession would lead, the king decided to hold a debate between Jain and Buddhist scholars. The winner takes out his procession first. Akalanka came there to join debate with Buddhist scholar Sanghaśrī. During the debate Sanghaśrī sat behind a curtain. One day Akalanka announced that he will defeat Sanghaśrī and conclude the debated before the day ended. He pulled the curtain and kicked a pitcher placed there. From the pitcher came out Goddess Tārā and joining her palms accepted defeat. She said that Sanghasri was defeated on the very first day and that Akalankadeva was a great scholar, no one has the power to counter his logic. Thus that was day of the victory of Jainism. The aforesaid king Subhatunga was popularly known as Rastrakūta king Kșşņarāja first.
After this Akalankadeva got initiated and accomplished the task of spreading Jainism throughout southern India. He was an epoch maker, great man, a radical philosopher and the founder of a new school of logic that became famous as Akalanka-nyāya. Some of his works are - Tattvārthavārtika Sabhāşya (a commentary on Tattvärtha Sūtra), Aștașati (a commentary on Smantabhadra's Āptamīnāmsā or Devāgama Stotra), Ladhīyastrya with auto-commentary, Nyāya Viniscaya, Siddhi Viniścaya, Pramāņa Samgraha. His period was eighth century.
Ācārya Ravişeņa – There is only one work to his credit - Padmacarita. It is equivalent to twenty thousand couplets. In Jains it is popularly known as Jain Rāmāyaṇa.
Vādībhasimha - He was a famous philosopher and a scholar of ethics. His works include - Syādvāda Siddhi, Kśatracūdāmaņi, and Gadya Cintāmaņi.
Acārya Vīrasena - He was the ācārya of Pañcastūpānvaya (a sub-sect) and disciple of Aryanandi. He got his education from Elācārya after
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