Comprehensive History Of Jainism

SR No.: 022803
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Aseem Kumar Chatterjee
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 28 MB

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A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF JAINISM
already referred to his grammar called Jainendra. His Sarvārthasiddh45 is undoubtedly the greatest, and one of the earliest, commentaries on the Tattvārthadhigamasutra. That he was an accomplished logician is evident from this commentary which has been highly praised by later writers. There are a few stories dealing with his wife which are practically of no value to the serious historians.
Akalanka is undoubtedly one of the greatest names in the history of Indian logic. However, like majority of ancient authors, lie gives practically no information regarding his personal life. Only in his Tattvārtharājavārttika does he inform us that he was the son of the king Laghu Havva. 66 Regarding the identity of this king, nothing is known. However, in the Kathākośa of Prabhācandra we are told that he was the son of the minister of king śubhatunga of Mānyakheța.67 A number of writers, beginning from Vadiraja and Prabhācandra, refer to Akalanka's debating skill and his victory over the Buddhists. The earliest source that refers to this event is a tenth-century inscription of the reign of Būtuga II which has already been mentioned. 68 Later Jaina writers and authors of epigraphs have referred to this feat of Akalanka with evident pride. However, regarding the name of the king, in whose reign this feat was accomplished, there is some confusion. As I have already noted, the patron of Akalanka, according to the Kathākośa of Prabhācandra was Subhatunga, but the Akalankacarita69 mentions one Sāhastunga in whose reign Akalanka defeated the Buddhists. Prabhācandra further informs us that the debate took place in the court of Himaśītala, who was evidently a contemporary of Subhatunga. The evidence of the Akalankacarita is confirmed by the Śravaņa Belgoļa inscription no. 67 which refers to Akalanka's patron as Sāhasatunga, who is generally identified with Dantidurga (mid-eighth century).70 This date for Akalanka conflicts with the traditional date, vs 700 given to him by later Jaina writers." It however appears that Akalanka was actually a contemporary of Dantidurga, and lived in the mid-eighth century AD. This should be regarded as the latest date for Akalanka since he was known to both Haribhadra and Jinasena I. The suggestion that he was known also to Jinadāsa (seventh century) appears gratuitous.72 It has also been suggested that Himaśītala of the Akalanka tradition should be identified with the king of Kalinga who was a contemporary of Yuan Chwang, 73 but this too is a mere surmise. Since Akalanka knew even the Buddhist and Brahmanical scholars who lived even in the seventh century, we will be justified