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However, there is no mention in the introduction about who Ayitava was, when he lived, or from where or from which place he achieved this name, etc. However, later on, Swami Samantabhadra has also been written as the author of the 'Ratnakarandaka' and it has been told that he composed this book after taking re-initiation.
Although, the name 'Ayitava' seems very unheard of and as far as we have understood Jain literature, we have not found this name anywhere else. Still, it is possible that 'Ayitavarma' like 'Santivarma' is also another name of Samantabhadra's household life or it may have been written mistakenly in place of Santivarma. If this is not the case, then on the basis of the above evidence, we have no hesitation in saying that Mr. Rice's attribution of this book to Ayitavarma is completely wrong and misleading - he must have had some misunderstanding or misinterpretation in making this mention. Otherwise, this book is made by Swami Samantabhadra himself and is famous by his name.
After all this was written, recently we got the opportunity to see the new edition of the said book, which was published in 1923, and we are happy to state that this edition has corrected Mr. Rice's said mistake and clearly by the words 'Ratnakarandaka of Samantabhadra' (Ratna Karandaka of Samantabhadra) has accepted the 'Ratnakarandaka' as the book of Samantabhadra.
Examination of the verses of the book. There are some scholars in society who do accept this book as written by Swami Samantabhadra, but they have doubts about some of the verses of this book. In their opinion, some verses are found in the book which are not part of the original book but are verses from some other book or books and later on some