Jain Journal 1974 01

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

Page 12

96
Avasyaka Malayagiri Vṛtti lends supports to the proofs given in Avasyaka Curṇt. There is identity of incidents. Further it has been said that Cani was a Sravaka well-versed in the nine fundamental substances like Jiva, Ajiva, etc. and that Canakya was well-versed in the fourteen arts, had profound knowledge of scriptures and was a fully contented Sravaka5.
JAIN JOURNAL
In Upadesapada, Acarya Haribhadra Suri has written that Cani was a Sravaka6 and that monks who were capable to interpret abnormal limbs in human beings came to his house. Besides recording the story of chiselling out of the teeth of Canakya, the Acarya has expressed his own views as follows: "On entering into boyhood, he became devoted to his studies. He became a Sravaka and developed nonattachment to worldly objects. He was highly contented and happy. He was always keen to avoid cruel and objectionable deeds"."
Acarya Haribhadra Suri has made the story of Avasyaka Cūrṇī full and complete. Avasyaka Curni deals only with the ascension of Candragupta as an Emperor and the successful diplomatic incidents of the administration under the guidance of Canakya. The author is silent about the manifold activities of Canakya's life except for incidents of boyhood. Acarya Haribhadra Suri has made up this deficiency. He has covered all aspects of Canakya's life and has thereby unfolded many facts hitherto unknown.
So goes the story that during the time of Acarya Sambhuta Vijayas, there was a terrible famine. Monks found it difficult to procure food. Acarya Sambhuta Vijaya was old and hence unable to travel to a distant place. But he sent his disciples to a sea-side region where there was no famine. Two young monks, however, came back out of regard for their preceptor. At one time Acarya Sambhuta Vijaya was revealing to a would-be Acarya the secrets of 'mantra tantra'. These two young monks sitting at a distance also secretly practised them. Meanwhile, famine set in and whatever food could be procured was first given by Acarya Sambhuta Vijaya to the young monks. He would take whatever was left over. His body became emaciated for want of sufficient nourishment. The young monks became worried. They found out another way of procuring food. By the power of 'mantras', they reached the palace of Candragupta and secretly took away the food laid out for the king. The monks satisfied their hunger but now Emperor Candragupta went without sufficient food. Hunger made his body weak day by day. One day when Canakya enquired of Candragupta, the latter stated that the food laid out for him was being removed by somebody, and due to hunger, he was growing weak.