Jain Journal 1968 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 24

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JAIN JOURNAL
considerations was easily influenced, and in VS 1154 (A.D. 1098), he gladly joined the holy order?
Another point which is not mentioned by Somaprabha may also be referred to here, and it is the religion of the parents of Cangadeva His mother Pahint and her brother Nemi were Jainas But the father is called a 'mithyātvin', a Jaina word for a non-Jaina by the Prabandha-cintamani and other works He appears to be a Mahesvarın from his use of the word 'sivanırmalya' when he was offered money (p 83) There is nothing strange in this as we find that persons in those days of the same family followed different faiths
As to the date of Hemacandra's 'Suri-ship' there is no difference of opinion The Prabhāvakacarita gives the year VS 1166 (AD 1110) So does the later Kumārapāla-prabandha (p 13) Thus we find that Hemacandra became a member of the Jaina holy order at the age of eight and became a Suri, a leader, at the age of twentyone
According to Kumārapāla-prabandha the ceremony of 'Suri-ship took place in Nagapura (Nagor) and the man who paid the expenses was one Dhanada, a merchant of the place (p 13)
In the life-story of a man of such extensive and extraordinary learning as Hemacandra, one would desire to know how he was educated, where he was educated and who were his teachers Unfortunately, however, we have very little information on the point in the Kumārapala-pratıbodha, we find Devacandra Suri saying to the maternal uncle of Cangadeva that Cangadeva after taking the vow, "will go deep into the truth of all sastras" After he took the vow, we are told, within a short time, he crossed the ocean of learning After he became an Acarya, he used to go out to other countries but he was asked to stay in Gujarat This is all the information that the Kumārapāla-pratibodha gives
Hemacandra himself says in the prasastı of the Trışaştıšalākapuruşacarita that he got all his learning through the favour of his guru Devacandra (tatprasādadadhigatajñānasampannamahodayah)
The Prabhāvakacarita tells us that “Somacandra quickly became master of tarka, laksana and sahitya But he was not satisfied with his
. Dr. Buchler's explanation of this matter is not acceptable to me as it is not based upon proper understanding of the material and the custom in these matters See pp 6-8 & Notes p 67, Singh. Jaina Series, No 11