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Preface
Suara Sambodhana Pancharinshatih, as the name signifies is a short grantha consisting of twenty-five shlokas (excluding the last one forming the epilogue). It is the shortest composition of Bhatta Shri Akalanka Deva, who flourished in the eighth century (720-780) AD.
It was the period when Buddhism was at its zenith and enjoyed political and royal patronage. Buddhist acharyas were in great power and were zealously trying to wipe out and destroy the very fabric of the Jain Darshan. It was Acharya Akalanka Deva, who not only stood against this onslaught and saved the Jain Darshan from extinction, but also debated with and defeated renowned Buddhist acharyas such as Dharma Kirti in religious debates. Bhatta Shri Akalanka Deva was one of the greatest thinkers and exponents of Jain Darshan
This grantha, Szarupa Sambodhana Pandharinshatih, deals with the nature of Soul and gives a vision of the Self. The author has discussed the true nature of the self from the anekantic point of view. It also deals with the methods to achieve self realization.
Though in vastness, this grantha is nowhere near to the other works of Sri Akalanka Deva, yet it has its own grandeur.
This English translation of the grantha is based on the original Sanskrit shlokas and khandariya given in the book, Swarupa Sambodhana Pancharinshatih edited by Dr. Sudeep Jain, a publication of Shri Akhil Bhartiya Jain Yuva Federation, Alwar, Rajasthan.
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