Jain Legend Vol 4

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

Page 94

Apart from Jain philosophy, he extensively studied Buddhist philosophy, Vai e ika, S mkhya etc. and earned fame as an eloquent and eminent debater of his times. The great debater R macandra defeated Dhandha - a
iv dvaita debater in Dholak Nagara, S gara - the great debater of Ka mr in Satyapura, Gu acandra of the Digambara tradition in Nagpur,
ivabh ti - the follower of Bh gavata sect in Citrak a, Gamg dhara in Gopagiri, Dhara dhara in Dhr Nagara, Padm kara - a Brahmin scholar in Pu kari and K a - a great Brahmin debater in Bh gukaccha in spiritual discourses and became renowned as "champion of discourses.' Erudite scholars like Vimalacandra, Haricandra, Somacandra, Pr vacandra, Praj dhan nti and A okacandra became his close friends. Thus the banner of his fame undulated everywhere.
c rya Municandra S ri, perceiving the famous scholar monk R macandra as worthy of the post, ordained him as crya in Vikram 1174 and changed his name from P r acandra to Deva S ri. On this occasion, r Municandra S ri gave five-vow initiation in monkhood to V ra Nga, father of P r acandra and designated P r acandra's mother Jinadev who had already been initiated into asceticism, as the chief of female-monks and christened her as Candana B 1.
r Deva S ri, after being ordained to the rank of c rya, took the permission of his devout Guru and wandered many regions such as Dholak etc, installed many Jina idols at various places and sanctified many virtuous people with his preaching, thus glorifying Jainism. As he ceaselessly engaged himself in meditation, austerities and contemplation on self-introspection, r Deva Sri unquestionably attained many supernatural powers without even endeavouring for their accomplishment.
He stayed on Mount Abu for sometime and from there he decided to set out for ‘Sap dalak a' (S mbhara). But he was prompted by some invisible force to postpone the journey to S mbhara and to go urgently to A ahillapura Pa a a, as his preceptor Municandra S ri was left with only six months' life. No sooner did r Deva S ri become aware of the future that he promptly started for A ahillapura Pa a a from Abu. Travelling continuously he reached Pa a a and engrossed himself in the service of his Guru.
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