Dvadasharnaychakram Part 4

Author(s): Mallavadi Kshamashraman, Labdhisuri
Publisher: Chandulal Jamnadas Shah

Page 59

reputation by means of unassailable arguments. (For these reasons) this voluminous and deep-sensed work jewel is unique in the Jaina world.
For Suri's that preceded this 'Suri' have no doubti clearly established the doctrine of nonabsolutism but they have merely refuted arguments of other schools based up on 'NAYAS' with the result that the view of these opponents cannot be clearly grasped. This suri has firstly clearly expounded views of persons of other schools and then refuted them. Hence this work is unique,
Siddhasena Divakara Suri:- The original author has extracted in this 'Nayacakra some complete and some sentences (from the works) of revered 'Siddhasena Divakara Suri'. This Divakara Suri is pupil-jewel of Vrddhavadin Suri, pupil of 'Skandila suri of Vidyadhra 'Vamsa (School), Skandila suri was 'yuga-pradhana' (towering personalite of his age) in Vira Samvt 376-414 (years 94-56 before the Vikrama era)
There are two Suris by name 'Skandila (1) Arya 'Jitendhara exponent (exponent of Jita' vyavahara i. e. codification) Skandila Suri and (II) 'Anuyogadhara (expert in exposition) Skandila 'Suri' who is mentioned in Nandi Sutra (Pr. Nandi sutta) in V. 26 and 33 as under, :-
“ UTHa a tragitti ICE 37615tqa" | RE 11 "................. are ETRO " 11 33 11
At least the fact that these 'Mahatmans ( saintly characters) who are best of ascetics, have flourished prior to the composition of Nadisutra' as their name are mentioned therein, is as clear as day-light. The fact that remains is; how can (Sandilla' mean Skandila' ? Commentators such as reverend 'Haribhadra Suri, Malayagiri Suri and others have explained "Sandilla" as Skandilya'. Against this only one thing is to be said that Skandilayariya mentioned in Nandisutra is referred to as 'Sandilla' in the following 20th 'sutra of Kalpasutra (Pr Pajisovanakappa).
"थेरस्स णं अजसीहस्स कासवगुत्तस्स अजधम्मे थेरे अंतेवासी कासवगुत्त थेरस्सणं अजधम्मस्स ATUAJTEU 375g op zidarit” 94. TRO]
From this we can understand that the work 'Sandilla' can be used in the sense of "Skandilla". Here that work Sandilla' is used for no other word but Khandilla' mentioned in 'Nandi', for venerable 'Haribhadra Suri' refers to 'Khandila as pupil of Simha Vacaka in his commentary on Nandi. This very mention occurs in the 20th Sutra of Kalpasutra. Of courrse, there Sandilla (Khandilla) is said to be a grand pupil of Arya Simha. But this difference is totally negligible; for one and the same individual is mentioned as 'Pupil in a commentary whereas 'grand-pupil
in the (corresponding) text.
The date of Arya Jitadhara Skandila Suri is fixed by historians as Vira Sanivat 376-424. At that time this Mahapurusa great personality of Vidyadhara' Vams's was bearing the yoke of the Jaina regime, as 'yuga-pradhana' Revered Divakara Suri was grand disciple of this very Mahapurusa and pupil of Vrddha-vadin Suri; So it may be very very clearly decided that the date of Rev. Divakara Suri is nothing else but fifth century of the Vira era - the period when Viksamaditya Sanivat pravartaka (founder of an era) was the ruler.