________________
Kannada Literature / 117
p. 44.] which has relevance to the discussion: 'How is it possible not to praise the noble chief of sages, Cintamani, who composed for use in every house, the Cintamani, which contains fine thoughts on virtue, wealth, pleasure and solution, for men who are (thereby) enjoying sweet happiness? A crest - jewel of poets and the author of a worthy poem named Cūlamaņi, Śrīvardhadēva alone was possessed of sufficient merit to acquire fame. He was thus praised by Dandi: 'Siva bore Jahnu's daughter (Ganga) on the top of his matted hair; O Śrīvadhadēva, you bear Sarasvati on the tip of your tongue' [ibid, p. 385].
5.3.2.3. It is clear that Śrivardhadēva was a poet per excellence and his work Cūlāmaṇi olim Cūdamaņi was a classic so well received by his contemporary and later poets of Sanskrti language. Śrīvardhadeva is chronologically placed after Samantabhadra, Kumārasena and Cintamani. He got Chintamani, as his second name because of his authorship of Cūlāmaņi; - ļa -, and-da-being interchangeable according to the phonetic law. Another suggestion that Tolamolideva (Tolamol-Tēvar), author of Sūlāmaṇi olim Cūḍāmaņi, a Jaina work in Tamil language (C. 7th - 10th cent.), and Śrivardhadēva are identical has not been accepted. The very fact that a Sanskrit author of the eminence of Dandin, has extoled Śrīvardhadeva confirms that he wrote Cūdāmaņi sēvya-kävya in Sanskrit or in Prakrit, as it is doubtful whether Dandin knew Kannada language, though he was from the south. Unless and untill it is proved beyond doubt, that Dandi also knew Kannada language, it can not be even suggested that Śrivardhadēva wrote his Cuḍamani in Kannada. His name also does not figure in the list of early authors of Kannada mentioned in Kavirājamārga, 'poet's avenue' (C. E. 850).
5.3.3. Many mendicants who had memorized major portions of the original canons, the agamās, perished in the
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
