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virtues of Maladhāri Hemacandra. But it may also partly have been due to the political connections of the early part of his life i. e. before his renunciation. As stated by Rājasekhara in his Dvyāśrayavștti in the prasasti (eulogy), he was a minister and had four wives. He gave up this life full of pomp and luxury, and was initiated under Maladhārī Abhayadeva. Grand details of the life of both the Maladhārīs are found in the prasasti of Mani Suvratacarita by Śricandrasūri.* Abhayasūri is described as tall and handsome and highly tolerant and patient. He · observed strenuously the code of conduct laid down for monks. When he foresaw that death was not far off he gradually decreased the quantity of his diet and finally took to fasting. Even then for many days he followed his daily routine of preaching, etc. and even went on foot to a rich man called Śrīyaka whose last wish was to see Abhayadevasūri. Abhayadeva died on the 47th day of his fasting. His funeral procession was a grand sight and people said, with eyes wide with astonishment, that one would certainly choose such a glorious death-however painful death might be. Even King Jayasimha watched the procession from his balcony.
Ācārya Maladhāri Hemacandra was a pupil of Abhayadevasūri. Tha account given by Hemacandra's pupil Sricandrasūri is illuminating. He was highly learned in many subjects and had about 50,000 books. His discourses in a sonorious voice were very popular and enlightened the people. Even King Jayasimha attended his discourses. Through this king, Hemacandra could achieve much for the uplift of the Jaina religion and community. Like his preceptor Abhayadeva, he also fasted for seven days before death came to him. King Siddharāja himself joined the funeral procession. He had three chief disciples (ganadhara) - Vijayasimba, Sricandra, Vibudhacandra - of whom Srīcandra officially succeeded him as a sūri on his seat.
Sricandra wrote his Munisuvratacarita a few years after the death of Maladhări Hemacandra and it was completed in
* See Catalogue of Works of the Pāțana Jaina Bhandāra (Gaekwad Series, p. 314).
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