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Astaka-Prakarana : An Introduction
Ācārya Haribhadra, one of the most prominent Jaina Ācārya and the most prolific writer was born in Cittauda or a place nearby. Very scanty informations are available about his life. As established by Muni Jinavijayaji, it is generally agreed that he lived between 753 to 827 A. D. His mother was Gangābāi and his father was Sankara Bhatta. He was Brahmin by caste. He became royal priest of the king Jitari of Cittauda. He had vowed that he would become the pupil of him or her whose sayings he would not comprehend. The well-known dramatic incidence of his life, of not fully grasping the Prākrta Gāthā, recited by Yākini Mahattarā, a Jaina nun, made him the disciple of a Jaina monk Jinabhastasūri.
This change over of a Great scholar, Royal priest and above all a rudite Brahmin, was not merely a change of faith but was a new birth to him. Infact, it was a spiritual rebirth which gave a new direction to his life and thought. He was transformed totally but he retained all, that was best in him alongwith his previous thoughts and beliefs. The new impact of Jainism made him more inclined to devote all his might and main to philosophic and religious pursuits.
His works are testimony to his genius and mainly consist of religious stories, philosophical treatises, discourses, exhortations on right conduct and on Yoga. He has composed a number of Prakaraṇa works also, viz., Aștaka-prakaraņa, Șodaśaka-prakaraņa, Vimsativiṁśikā and Pañcāśaka-prakaraņa also.
Presently, the subject-matter, in brief, of Astakaprakaraña, composed in Samsksta, containing 258 verses, is being given. It is a compendium of 32 prakaranas dealing with different topics. Each contains eight verses hence Astaka, except, last 32nd which contains 10 verses. The title of the Așțakas are :
(1) Mahādevāștakam, (2) Snānāştakam, (3) Pūjāstakam, Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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