Jain Digest 1988 08 Vol 13 No 07

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 17

to PEI on behalf of India Jain Mahasabha - IJM. Muni Chetanasagar spoke on the essence of culcating spiritual and human values amongst the children and youth, and stressed the point how Jain Shrines can play a vital role in the development and progress of the community.
SAINT KUNDAKUNDA 2000th ANNIVERSARY ACROSS INDIA
Saint Kundakunda, acclaimed Jain philosopher and scholar of the !st centuary, has the third place in the Jain Chronicle after Lord Mahavir and Canadhara Gautam. This great Jain Acharya's 2000 Anniversary is now being celebrated, this year, throughout India.
Kundakunda was born on Sunday, 5 February of the Jain Calendar year, Vir Saka 501. His parents, Gunakirti and Shantale, were the residents of the village Kondekunda, now known as Konakonda, about 4 miles from Guntkal Kailway station in Andhra Pradesh. Kundakunda was named Padmaprabha by his parents. Padmaprabha entere ascetic life when he was only 11 years old. His Guru gave him a new name, Padmanandi. During his middle life, he produced and wrote voluminous treatise on various facets of Jain philosophy. And at 44, he was ordained to the highest sainthood of Acharya. Kundakunda's
works include
Tirukurul, Barasa Anuvekka, Panchastikaya, Niyamasara Kundakunda's works are many folded. His important works are: Tirukurul. Barasa Anuvekka, Panchastikaya and Niyamasara.
Saint Kundakunda was an outstanding Jain Philosopher and Scholar. As well he was the conceivor and organisor of the Bhattarakas, the Jain ascetics empowered with religious administration and supreme authority in religious matters. Kundakunda passed away in his 96th year in the year A.D. 12 at Kundadri Hills in southwesten part of India.
JAIN AWARENESS AT ARRAH, BIHAR
Arrah, known for the development and propogation of Jain Religion as pioneered by late Babu Devendra Kumar Jain, recently received Muni Kuntu Sagar and his Sangha of 33 members. During June 1988, many religious activities, wherein the Sangha fully participated in bringing Jain Awareness through lectures, meditation, Yoga and seminar.
Chaturmasa of the Sangha in 1988 will be done here.
PAVUMACHARIYA JAINA EPIC IN PRAKRIT
The Jain epic Pavumachariya is the Jain Ramayan written in Prakrit by Jain Saint Vimala Suri in the first century. Pavumachariya is the oldest literature found in Prakrit language.
- C.P.Kusum Jain, M.A., Sravanabelgol, KA
www.jainelibra 16org