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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
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Vyomasiva mentions Kadambari as an incomplete work (p.13, 1.10) which helps us in putting Vyomasiva after the demise or retirement from the domestic life of Bāṇabhatta who was most probably an older contemporary to Śrīharşa (606-645 A. D.). Moreover, the two sentences in Vyomavati sia dago and stage fanaarafa (p.136, 1.13 15) point probably to the fact that he is a younger contemporary of Bāṇabhatta or Sriharşa or both. Earlier authors mentioned in Vyomavatī are Vyāsa, Nāgārjuna Kumārila, Prabhākara, Dharmakirti, Bhartxhari, Uddyotakara, Bana, Kālidāsa and Cāņakya.
We also know that the definition of mokṣa as quoted and refuted by Mandana and Akalzůka, is found in Vyomavati. Both these authors belong to the end of the 8th and the beginning of the 9th century A.D. respectively. Vyomaśiva may, therefore, be safely placed about the second half of the 7th cenrury A.D.
About the place where Vyomasiva lived we have no definite information. But, it is presumed that he has never visited the Deccan, the place of origin of the Virasaiva sect. So, he may not be connected with Kāñci as claimed by the Virasaiva traditions. A study of Vyomavati reveals that the author defines the cardinal direction of the south as TETEHF feranse ta F e are fa pagit: (p.133, 1.9). That is the direction of the south to which the sun comes in the mid-day. This natural phenomenon occurs only in the countries beyond the Tropic of Cancer which lies in or about 24; degrees of
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