Jain Spirit 1999 10 No 02

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 55

HISTORY
GUST
AN ELEVENTH CENTURY GENIUS: HEMCHANDRACHARYA
Via
inod Kapashi examines the life of one of the greatest Jain figures in this millennium, a literary grandfather of Gujarat. He played a significant role in promoting Jainism in Gujarat.
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Hemchandra was born in a Vanik family in 1088 A.D. in a small town called Dhandhuka. His father Chaching and his mother Chahini were devoted Jains. Hemchandra was only eight years old when he left his parents and his home to go with a famous Jain monk Devchandra, who initiated the young child into the monkhood. Hemchandra practised the austerities prescribed in Jain literature and he crossed, within a short space of time, the whole ocean of learning. His guru made him Acharya - the spiritual head of a group of monks - and since then he was known as Hemchandracharya.
The king Siddharaj, the then king of Gujarat, was attracted by the qualities of Hemchandracharya. He first met Acharya whilst ceremoniously parading the streets of Patan (then capital of Gujarat). The king was seated on an elephant and the Acharya was coming from the opposite direction. On seeing the king, Acharya praised the king in a beautifully composed Sanskrit lyric. This spontaneous response from the Acharya and the eloquence of
Jain Spirit October December 1999
yish
men
Photo: Chandu Shah
The Palitana te,ple complex was inspired by Hemchandracharya
his poetry won the king's heart. The king invited Acharya to the Palace the very next day and from that day onwards the bond between them was unbroken. Acharya's political wisdom, religious strength and immense knowledge gave him a special place in the king's court.
King Siddharaj had fought and won many battles. His greatest victory was the victory of Malva (a town in central India). Malva was won but everyone knew that Malva was superior to Gujarat because Malva had its own strong, unmatched literary tradition. Malva had the best Sanskrit grammar, whilst Gujarat had none. The king wanted Gujarat to be at the vanguard of literature, and it was Hemchandra who came to his rescue. Scholarly knowledge of grammar was essential for any writer or poet. which was a point of prestige in the kingdom.
The king requested that Hemchandra compose a grammar, which would lift Gujarat's prestige. He agreed to undertake this mammoth task. After gathering all the necessary information from various sources and three years of continuous research, Hemchandra composed the grammar of the Sanskrit and Prakrit