Jain Legend Vol 4

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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became totally detached towards life. He sought the permission of his parents to renounce the world. Deluded by attachment, they were shocked and aggrieved. They tried to explain and make him realise how difficult was the path he had chosen; but the young boy remained determined.
The parents were very well aware of their son's temperament. Once he took any decision, neither anyone nor anything could change his mind. So, ultimately they granted him permission with a heavy heart.
After being initiated into rama a dharma he was renamed Abhayadeva. Monk Abhayadeva started studying Sanskrit, Pr k ta languages, etc with great devotion and mastered them while ardently serving his guru. He astonished the scholarly world with his profound knowledge. Following the pure code of conduct he gained erudition from his preceptor Jine vara Sri.
As he became a peerless scholar in all disciplines and held abstruse knowledge of scriptures, his fame reached far and wide. He was considered as one of the foremost scholars of his time.
In spite of his quick-wit, expertise in scriptural knowledge and profound scholarship, Abhayadeva Sri remained honest, simple and humble.
nated by these qualities and the tales of fame of his grand-disciple. the religious reformer Varddham na Sri commanded his obedient and proficient disciple Jine vara S ri to adorn Abhayadeva with the rank of
c rya. Obeying his guru's orders Jine vara S ri raised the young 16 year old r Abhayadeva to the rank of c rya in Vikram 1088.
Even after being endowed with 'S ri' rank, r Abayadeva S ri accompanied his guru and carried out an extensive tour of different places delivering sermons and propagating Jain doctrine. He also engaged in many reform activities of Jina order.
According to the author of Prabh vaka Caritra, some time after being designated to the rank of Sri, crya Varddham na S ri, in his wanderings reached Palyapadrapura. Realizing that he reached the end of his life and aspiring holy death, he observed fasting (unto death) there. He took the vow of Samth r and departed for heaven. After the demise
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