ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 138

B.1.1.3.4
Acārya Kundakunda and his Literature
Prof. Bhag Chand Jain
1.0 Introduction Kundakunda was a spiritual saint and a great writer among Digambara Jaina thinkers. He is honored, next to Mahāvīra. Kundakundānvaya is evidence that recognizes him as the head of the Mülasangha, which is also considered one of the earliest congregations of Jaina ascetics named after Kundakunda. Kundakunda as a leader of Mūlasangha had also launched the Sarasvati movement around 30 B.C. and initiated or popularized the reading and writing the scriptures in Saurașeni Prakrit and in the languages of South India. Kundakunda also composed the Kural in Tamil language.
1.1 Life Sketch According to epigraphic records, Kundakunda's original name was Padmanandi, but he became more popular by the name Kundakunda (E.C. II, 64, 66). In addition, Vakragrīva, Elācārya and Graddhapiccha were his other names or epithets. According to Dr. Upadhye, Kundakunda hails from Konakunda near Guntakal. Dr. Hanumanth Rao is of view that the birthplace of Kundakunda is Vijayawada on the ground that there is an ancient inscription in Akkanna Madanna caves. Dr. T.V.G. Shastri Supported the view by saying that exploration on the bank of the river Krishna has revealed some ancient Jain remains attributed to the period before Christ in a village called Kolanukonda, not Konakonda in Anantapur District. The place is located in Guntur district on the opposite side of the city of Vijayawada.
Nothing more about his personality is found in the works of Kundakunda except the name of Bhadrabāhu as his Gamakaguru. So many traditional stories of course are found in different texts of different times that are not much reliable and helpful for deciding the date and period of Kundakunda. For instance, the Punyāśravakatha-kośa, Arādhana-kātha-kośa, and Jñānaprabodha provide some information about his advent to Pūrva Videha-Kșetra for paying a visit to Sīmandharasvāmī. Devasena in his Darśanasāra (Verse 43) also supports this view.
1.2 Date of Acārya Kundakunda The date of Ācārya Kundakunda is still a vexed problem, which could not be solved in such a way that could be approved by all the scholars. It requires the judicious and unbiased
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