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embly of the learned was Devasūri. He was born at Maddabrit in Ashtādaśasati in V. Samvat 1143 (A. D. 1086–7 )23 He was a a Porwad Bania. His father's name was Viranaga and mother's name Jinadevi. Before he entered the order of Jain monks, he was known as Purnachandra. When he was eight years old, his father migrated to Broach. After a year, Munichandra, a Jain monk, made Purnachandra his disciple. Viranāga was given an annuity by the Jains of Broach.24
When Purnachandra entered the order of Jain monks, he came to be known as Rāmachandra. He studied logic and Pramānaśāstra and won victories in various debates. In Dholka, he defeated a dialectician named Bandba of the Saivadvaita school.25 According to the Mudritakumudachandra, however, it was Munichandra, Devasūri's guru, who defeated the Saiva dialectician. It may be that Devachandra might have taken prominent part in helping his guru in the debate with Saivadvaita.26
23 The region about Abu was in those days known as Ashtadagasati. Maddahrit is probably modern Madna, near Abu. 24 Prabhāvakacharita, pp. 270-72. 25 Ibid
p. 272. 26 Kavyanusasana, II, C C I L. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
