Jain Legend Vol 4

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

Page 96

Yielding to the request of the congregation in Kar vat subsequent to the completion of his monsoon stay, he started from Pa a a, and passing through many places preaching and propagating the doctrine and tenets promulgated by omniscient Jina, he arrived at Kar vat . There he stayed in monastery for four months of monsoon.
During the same time Digambara c rya r Kumudacandra also stayed at Kar vat Nagara in V sup jya temple (12th T rthamkara) for his monsoon halt. He was the spiritual preceptor of the King of Karnataka Jayake Deva, the maternal grandfather of Siddhar ja Jayasimha, the King of Pa a a. People flocked even from remote places to behold the Dar ana of Deva S ri and to listen to his preaching. They paid tributes in his glory and were relatively indifferent towards r Kumudacandra. Observing the increasing fame of his opponent, the great debater r Kumudacandra was irate and envious. According to Prabh vaka Caritra, with the help of his devotees, Kumudacandra won the Vand clan (a subcaste professionally engaged in the olden times for singing the eulogies of royal patrons) onto his side by luring them with huge amounts of money and with a bait of honour. He wanted to provoke Deva Sri capitalising them. The people from the Vand clan would go to the locale where Deva S ri was preaching and recite a number of prosaic songs with an intent to ridicule and disgrace the vet mbara sect in general, and Deva S ri in particular in the eyes of the people.
One day Kumudacandra saw an old lady of Deva S ri's ascetic congregation passing by their temple on her way to seek alms. His devotees started harassing her in many ways. Taking a cue from Kumudacandra, they threw her into a water tank (ku da). They also forced her to dance. By dint of a proper stratagem, c rya Deva Sri decided to humble the pride of Kumudacandra with the same finesse as the holes are drilled in pearls. So he arranged for a spiritual discourse in the court of Siddhar ja Jayasimha of A ahillapura Pa a a.
After making congruous arrangements in the royal court, the King summoned both the parties for the spiritual disputation. The two – the plaintiff and the defendant arrived at the court, where the king proclaimed that whoever is defeated in the debate should leave the great expanse of Gurjara territories of A ahillapura Pa a a once and for all. The winner may stay within the domain of Gurjara kingdom. With this
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