________________
125
Sri Munisundara Suri expired on the first day of the bright half of the month of Kârttika in 1503 V. S.
52. Sri Ratnasekhara Sari Birth V.S. 1457 (1462 71: Initiation V. S. 1463 : Paņditatva 1483 : Vacaka-pada 1493: Ācārya-ship 1502 : Demise V. S 1517:
Total Life-time 60 Years.
Sri RatnasekharaSūri was the successor of Sri Munisundara Súri. There is difference of opinion about the year of his birth. Some contend that he was born in V. S 1457, while others maintain that V.S. 1452 was the year of his birth. He was not only a learned man, but also a competent disputant. He defeated the disputants of Deccan when he was in the prime of his life. And Bämbi, a savant of Khambhāta, being pleased by his debating capacity, awarded him the title of "Bala Sarasvati".
At the request of Mahādeva, a merchant of Devagiri (i. e. Daulatābād ), Vacaka-pada was awarded to him and the occasion was celebrated with a great festival. During the fifty-four years of his initiated life, he traversed through a vast area.
In the domain of literature too, he played an important part. He composed the Arthadipika commentary on the Srāddhaprati, kramana Satra, the Vidhikaumudi commentary and the şaţăvasyaka Vrtti on the Sraddhavidhi Sætra, as also, an independent treatise of 4065 verses called Ācāra-pradipa. He is also said to have written the Prabodhacandrodaya-Vrtti, as well as, an avacäri on the Haima-Vyakarapa.
Prom amongst his disciples, Somadeva has composed "Kathâmahodadhi" in V. S. 1504, which comprises both prose and poetry. It contains 157 stories indicated in Karpuraprakara of Harişeņa. More-over, a commentary on Jinaprabha Sūris Siddhäntastava, composed by one Somadeva Gapi, is also available.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
