Jain Journal 1997 01

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

Page 14

SOMĀNI : JAINS UNDER THE RĀȘTRAKŪTAS OF DECCAN
81 were drafted by some other writers. However, it is true that Akalanka remained much popular poet, whose works are still highly venerated.
Virasena was a notable Acārya. He remained alive up to the time of Amoghavarşa I. He had drafted the Dhavalā-and Jaya-dhavala commentaries. The Dhavalā was completed on Kārtika-Sudi 13 Saka Era 738. At that time Jagtunga had left the kingdom and Boddanarāi was then in power. Some scholars consider the date as of VikramaEra. But it is totally incorrect. We know the Vikrama-Era was popular in the Rājasthān, M.P. and some other parts of Northern India. It was not popular in the Deccan. The colophon certainly has the words “Vikrama Rāyāmhi”, but it does not mention the name of era. It is interesting to note that the era was not known as Vikrama at that time. It was then known as Mälava-Era. It was denominated as Vikrama Era, at a much later date. Its earlier date is known as VE 898 of Dholpur inscription of Chand-Mahāsena. It is noted that the astrological reckoning of the above date comes almost similar for Vikram-and Saka-Eras. Jyoti Prasād Jain has coherently advocated that the era used on the above passage was of Vikrama Era. But as stated above its popularity in the Deccan and its nomenclature as Vikrama Era were not known.
Ācārya Jinasena, who had completed the Mahāpurāna's commentary was contemporary to Amoghavarşa I. It is mentioned in the colophon of Uttara-Purāna that the above ruler considered it a matter of pious discourse to put his head under Jinasenācārya.The Praśnottara-Ratnamālā was composed by Amoghavarşa I. In its invocatory passage he had quoted "Prāņipatya-Vardhamanasya". Although it is still a matter of controversy that Amoghavarşa I was the renowned follower of Jainism, but he was much inclined towards it. Mahāvīrācārya, who had composed Ganita-Sāra, mentioned about Amoghavarsa I that the latter had attempted to please the masses and performed the meritorious deeds for them, which are proved from various epigraphical and other evidences. Leaving the administration in the hands of his yuvarāja and ministers he often preferred to spend his life in peaceful atmosphere. The verse 47 of Sanjān plate also corroborates' it. The Prašnottara-Ratnamālā also mentions that he was deeply interested in Jainism. His father Govindaraja III also favoured the Jains and granted a town Jāla Mangalā to the Yapaniya Jaina Sangha. It was granted on the request of Gangā-Vamsi-Cākirāja.
5. The Dhavalā 1-1-1-(Intro pp. 44-45) verses 6 to 9. 6. R.C. Agrawal's Muni-Hazarimal Smrti Grantha pp. 661. 7. The colophon of Uttara-purāna verses 8-9. 8. E.I. Vol. XVIII pp. 235-257.