Jain Journal 1992 10

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

Page 45

OCTOBER, 1992
each edition, the name of the original author in Tamil is mentioned as Tiruvulla Nainar (Tiruvalluvar).
87
At the time of Kundakundacarya, the Pallavas ruled in Tamil Nadu, with Kanjipuram as their capital. Śiva Mahārāj or Śiva Skandha Varma was a Jaina King of the Pallava dynasty. For him Kundakundācārya wrote the Prabhṛt Trayt-Pañcastikāya Sāra, Pravacana Sāra and Samaya Sara. The Acarya is reputed to have written 85 Pahuḍas, out of which only twelve are extant-the three Prabhṛtas mentioned above, Niyama Sāra and Aṣṭa Pāhuḍas.
Pañcästikāya Sāra treats about the five cosmic constituents. The five cosmic constituents are jiva (soul), pudgala (matter), dharma (principle of motion), adharma (principle of rest) and ākāśa (space).
Pravacana Sāra is in three parts. The first part states that a Kevali absorbed in his Self, is above all sensual feelings-above pleasure and pain. The second part states that knowledge is in corelation to the five cosmic constituents. The third and last part deals with dravya and bhāva lingas, the externals and internals of a Muni-his eleven hall-marks and his true disposition.
Samaya Sära describes the pure nature of the Soul. The word "Samaya" is used in the sense of absorption or realisation. Selfabsorption is the central goal to be aimed at by the Soul struggling to be free from the fetters of the mundane bondage of karmas.
Niyama Sāra deals with the path of liberation, which is Right Belief, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct-the three jewels of Jaina faith. The word Niyama literally means "rule of law" and Săra means "the right". Niyama Sära thus signifies the Right Rule, i.e, the true and indispensable law for the attainement of liberation. The whole gist of this treatise is to show that the all-pure, all-conscious, all-blissful and self-absorbed soul alone is the Siddha, a perfect soul. If a soul is in bondage with Karmic matter, 1.e., if it has any connection, whatsoever, with the non-soul, it is imperfect and under delusion. When this connection with the non-self is completely severed, Siddha-pada, Perfection, is attained.