Jain Journal 1968 04

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

Page 29

APRIL, 1968
incarnation" The ministers of Bharati gave the books and sent a Pandit named Utsaha' (vs 88-92)
'Hemacandra went through the collection of grammars and preparod a now and wonderful grammar which was named Siddha-Hemacandra-sabdanušāsana (v 96) "The grammar was acclaimed as the best among grammars by all learned men and was accepted as an authority by all the modern Pandits" ! (vs 98-100)
The enthusiasm of the recepton that was accorded to his grammar must have inspired Hemacandra to write works on alued subjects such as lexicons, poetics, metrics, etc
Many are the incidents reported by the Prabhāvakacarita, the Prabandha-cintamani and Kumārapāla-prabandha of Jinamandana and other Prabandhas about Hemacandra and Jayasimha We cannot go into all these, but refer to one which throws light on the religious and ethical influence that Hemacandra exercised on Jayasımha
Jayasimha, desirous of liberation, once asked the leaders of various religious sects as to what was the truth in the matters of God, Religion and the Pātra ? Every secterian praised his own creed and slighted others. The king selt perplexed at this and consulted Hemacandra He gave his answer in the form of a parable from the Puranas and then Said, “in this iron age even though the truth is hidden, one may get its benefit by respecting all darśanas with proper devotion"
On other occasions Hemacandra is reported to have preached that ethical code which forms the common substance of all religions
Whether these stories are historical or not, they do indicate the spirit of Hemacandra's preachings to his royal friend From the anekanta point of view of Jainism, Hemacandra was doing just the thing that was expected of him
Various motives explaining Hemacandra's attitude have been imagined by Dr Buehler and other scholars which may or may not be real. Subjective element greatly affects such interpretations Historically we can say this much that even in those days in every sect,
This Utsaha Pandit must have been the same as is referred to in the MudritaKumudacandra as one whose wonderful and great energy of learning was known 10 Saradadesa