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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.
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