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________________ ACHARYA KUNDA-KUNDA (Mangalacharan) prayer. Jains of the Digambar tradition dub their tradition Kunda-kunda Anvaya (the order of Kunda-kunda). However, scholars of all sects study his books with deep veneration. He was born around the beginning of the first century AD in Southern India in a place named Kondakonda. Kunda-kunda belonged to an ancient order called the Nandi Sangha, wherein most monks assumed names ending in "Nandi". His official name after becoming a Jain monk was Padma-nandi, but he is better known by the place of his origin. Kunda-kunda mentions that he was a descendant of Bhadrabahuswami, the last Shruta Kevali Acharya who possessed complete knowledge of the twelve Anga Agams including the 14 Purvas. Punya Shravak Katha Kosha mentions that in his previous life Kunda-kunda was a cow herder who had found and preserved ancient texts and was blessed by a wandering monk. Acharya Kunda Kunda's intense learning and moral character attracted royal disciples such as King Shiva Kumar. The story of Kundakunda is also surrounded by a legend - it is even said that he could walk on air! Acharya Kund-kunda Kunda Kunda's influence extends far beyond Jainism. India has always been a land where philosophical debates are a standard feature of intellectual life. The concise and systematized aphorisms he brought to Jain literature were unparallel. Kunda-kunda's creativity allowed him to utilize existing literary structures to explain Jainism's most advanced scientific principles such as atomic structure, cosmic dimensions, the cosmic ethers, and psychology. His treatises rivaled any other writing to date. Hindu and Buddhist thinkers were challenged to respond to his explications of Jain philosophy and conduct. Kunda-kunda elevated the level of scholarship and debate in India's overall philosophical discourse. Out of enthusiastic respect, Acharya Kunda-kunda has been called "Light of this Dark Age". Several commentaries on his Samay-sar have been written in Sanskrit and in modern languages. In recent centuries, the Samay-sar has greatly moved leaders and scholars like Banarasi Das, Tarana Swami, Shrimad Rajchandra and Gurudev Shri Kanji Swami. S53 Jain STORY BOOK For Private & Personal Use Only Jain Education International www.iainelibrary.org
| SR No. | 201050 |
| Book Title | Acharya Kundakunda |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | JAINA Education Committee |
| Publisher | JAINA Education Committee |
| Publication Year | 2010 |
| Total Pages | 2 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Article, Jaina_Education, & 0_Jaina_education_Story |
| File Size | 1 MB |