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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The above incident described in Kharatara gaccha V had Gurv val is confirmed by Abhayadeva Sri himself. He giving accolades to Dro a S ri in Sth n mga V tti, Jt dharma Kath mga V tti and Aupap tika S tra clearly mentioned that crya Dro a S ri of Niry tti kula had amended these V ttis written by him.
A narration related to Dro c rya is found in Prabh vaka Caritra: King Bh ma was ruling A ahillapura Pa a a. Dro a was the holy teacher of the king. Dro a was born in a K atriya caste and was maternal uncle of king Bh ma. Dro crya took initiation at a very young age and was appointed to the post of c rya. With this information it can be inferred that probably crya Dro a of Temple dwellers tradition and the one of K atriya lineage described in Prabh vaka carita were one and the same.
Author of Prabh vaka Caritra mentioned Src rya, a very influential
c rya as the successor and disciple of Dro c rya. Exactly contrary to this, the author of Kharatara gaccha Gury val says that S r с rya was the predecessor c rya to Dro c rya. Seeing the names of Src rya and Dro c rya described in the above mentioned Pa val , the reader naturally thinks that Dro c rya was the disciple of Sr c rya whose life has already been described.
According to historical timescale Src rya undoubtedly lived up to Vikram 1080. Abhayadeva Sri and Dro c rya were contemporaries and in perfect amity with each other. Abhayadeva S ri wrote Sth n mga V tti and Gnatadharma Kathang V tti in Vikram 1120. Dro c rya modified these two V ttis. This historical fact proves that Dro crya was holding the post of chief c rya in Vikram 1120. It also ascertains that Src rya held the rank of managing- c rya of Temple dwellers tradition in 1080 and 40 years after him Dro c rya held the post of managing- c rya of Temple dwellers tradition. Thus it is obvious that S r с rya was predecessor c rya and probably his preceptor too.
Dro a S ri by maintaining amicable relations with Abhayadeva S ri, the
c rya of Suvihita tradition, re-established the name and status of Temple dweller tradition which was at low ebb. Thus he not only prevented it from obliteration but also revivified it. Temple Dweller tradition was immensely benefited by this farsightedness of Dro c rya; the tradition which would have otherwise become extinct by the end of 11" century was kept alive and anew and somehow succeeded to survive
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