Jain Journal 1978 01

SR No.: 520049
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 1978
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 2 MB

Page 18

94
KKA. Elacarya, Vakragriva, and Grddhapinccha are names of other Acaryas. Umasvati is sometimes called Graddhapinccha. And probably for this reason the confusion started. And once the confusion starts, somehow it acquires sufficient strength to sustain it.
JAIN JOURNAL
KKA has not given any account of his life. It is only in one of the mss of Bārasă Anuvekkhā it is mentioned that the author is a disciple of Srutakevali Bhadrabahu. If this is accepted as authentic, he would appear to belong to 4th or 3rd century B.C. But the linguistic analysis of his writings do not permit us to agree on this. The structure of his language such as the loss of voiceless sounds make historical linguists to fix his date around 2nd century A.D.
In the accepted and almost well-preserved hierarchy of Acaryas after Mahavira upto the beginning of the Christian era also, KKA's name is not found. Therefore we cannot rely very much on the oral tradition alone. An approach is to be made on critico-historical and linguistic methods. And this approach does not permit us to fix his date before 1st century A.D. Any way, identification of some of the Jaina Acaryas and their date may help us in finding out the truth.
In the introduction to Tirukkural, Prof. A. Chakravarthy has said that the author of that immortal poetry is none but KKA and his desciple Tiruvallavar. Prof. Chakravarthy is of opinion that KKA lived in the 1st century B. C. As already stated this date cannot be accepted. About the authorship his thesis may be considered. There is much truth in the statement that KKA hails from the South. And it is also true that because of the socio-religious activities sponsored by him and his Mula Sangha early advent of Jainism in Tamilnadu and in other parts of the South was possible. It appears that he founded Mula Sangha as early as the 2nd century A.D. This was subsequently revived at Madura by Vajranandi in the fifth century A.D. under the new name Dravida Sangha. Hence 5th century may be considered as the last limit for the age of KKA.
Though it can be safely said that KKA is from the South but here again there is difficulty in locating his exact birth place. Prof. A. Chakravarthy is of the opinion that KKA (Elacarya) must have spent his last days in meditation on the top of the hill near Wandiwash in North Arcot District, and his footprints are found on this hill which is being worshipped by pilgrims even today. But the validity of this observation is not beyond doubt. Prof. Chakravarthy observes this on the assumption that KKA and Elacarya are the same person.