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ÄCHÄRYA KUNDA-KUNDA
A great organizer of the highly complex concepts of Jain philosophy, Kunda-kunda wrote five renowned books:
Samayasar (Treatise on the True Self) Pravachanasar (Treatise of Preaching) Niyamasar (Treatise on Rules of Conduct) Panchästikäya (Treatise on Five Universal Substances)
Ashta-pähuda (Eight Steps), a collection of eight texts All of his works are written in an ancient dialect known as Saurseni Präkrit, similar to Ardha-Magadhi Präkrit. The organizing of Jain ideas into certain relationships and structures, taken for granted in recent centuries, was a product of his thought. So extraordinary was this idea that many other books written in this style by his pupils and other Jain scholars are popularly ascribed to him. In the Digambar tradition, he is praised immediately after Lord Mahävir and the preceptor Gautam swami in the auspicious blessing (Mangalächaran) prayer. Some 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. Ächärya Kunda-kunda has been called "Light of this Dark Age". Several commentaries on his Samayasär have been written in Sanskrit and in modern languages. In recent centuries, the Samayasär has greatly moved leaders and scholars like Banarasi Däs, Taran swami, Shrimad Räjchandra and Gurudev Shri Kanji Swami. Today, in the southern state of Tamilnadu in India, on a large stone under a certain Champä tree on the hill Ponnur Malai, pilgrims may stumble upon an engraved pair of footprints (Charan). These footprints are symbolic of a thinker who, nearly two thousand years ago, composed some of Jainism's most influential philosophical books
Moral:
Kunda-kundächärya elevated the level of scholarship and debate in India's overall philosophical discourse. Kunda-kundächärya has been called "Light of this Dark Age". Some of his well-known works are Samayasar, Panchästikäya, Pravachanasär and Niyamasär have greatly moved leaders and scholars like Shrimad Räjchandra and Gurudev Shri Kanji Swami.
10.- Question: What was Ächärya Kunda-kunda's contribution to Jainism and beyond?
JAIN STORY BOOK
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