Book Title: Jain Legend Vol 4
Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Previous | Next

Page 115
________________ According to Prabh vaka Caritra, the boy Camgadeva was initiated when he was 5 years 3 months old. Whereas author of Prabandha Cint ma i pushed the date further and fixed it as 8 years. The initiation period mentioned in some other texts is in conformity with that mentioned in Prabh vaka Caritra. As such, as there are no other authentic evidences, we are left with no other alternative than to comply with the author of Prabh vaka Caritra. The neophyte monk Somacandra started his studies devotedly serving his guru. He sequentially studied the languages - Sanskrit, Pr k ta, Apabhram a etc., and then subjects like literature, grammar, logic, prosody, Astrology etc. and mastered them, besides Jain scriptures and literature. At an early age itself he became unparalleled scholar in the Jain philosophy and doctrines of other religions too. The fame of his prodigious versatility spread far and wide. Even after attaining profound knowledge in all the subjects, Muni Somacandra did not feel contented. He thought 'unless I acquire a unique subject like 'Pad nus ri' (A type of supernatural power related to predestination of knowledge), I cannot successfully accomplish the task of propagating and enriching the Jina order by creating the best works of literature. After contemplating on it for a long time, he firmly resolved to worship Goddess Saraswat. One day at dawn, after taking the permission of his Guru, r Devendra S ri, and Muni Somacandra started towards Br hm land, the seat of learning along with few other Monks. During his journey, he crossed the Mount Raivata and reached Nemin tha T rtha. There he stayed in a secluded place. At night he was totally engrossed in the worship of Br hm , the Goddess of Learning. In the middle of the night, Br hm Dev appeared in front of him and said, “O! Unblemished Soul! Now there is no need for you to go to other places. I am much delighted with your incomparable devotion. Your wish gets fulfilled here." Br hm Dev disappeared after bestowing the boon. Even after her disappearance, Monk Somacandra spent the rest of the night worshipping Br hm Dev . Thus Monk Somacandra, without undergoing much trouble became a prodigious poet and an eminent scholar. He then returned to his guru. 115

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241