Jinamanjari 1998 04 No 17

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

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respected and revered theologian in later inscriptions from the hills of Śravanabelagola, dated from 1115 to 1176 C. E.
"In that ocean the groups of excellent jewels, the mighty and illustrious munis, Gautama and others endowed with the seven great supernatural powers ... in their line was born Padmanandi, also known as Kondakundācārya, who, by his lofty character, acquired the power of moving in the air.'
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Kundakunda pontificated for 41 years, and he was also known by other names viz., Vakragrīva Grdhrapiccha, and Elācārya.
Dravidian Origin
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The early kingdoms of South India known at the time of Asoka were the Cheras, the Colas and the Pandyas historically all being Jains and promoters of their faith. They changed their faith and became Śivaite only in the later period. The Pallava rulers were patrons of Jain religion, or were themselves Jainas by faith, and they belonged to the indigenous race. Their kingdom was Thonda Mandalam, which lay east of the ghats, and covered the region between South Pennar in South Arcot district and North Pennar in Nellor, and a part of the Telugu country up to the river Krishna. Their capital was Conjeepuram. Epigraphic records show that the language of their court was Prakrit.
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According to all the commentators of Pañcāstikāya, Pravacanasara and Samayasara, Kundakunda composed the works for the benefit of his royal disciple Pallava Sivakumāra. This is supported by the Jaina inscription - Mayidavolu inscription - of Pallava king Śiva Skandavarma, whose another form is Siva Kumāra.21 Thus, the Pallava king was a contemporary of Kundakunda. This leads to the fact that Kundakunda must have also been in the Pallava kingdom." Scholars are of the opinion that scattered facts of traditions and literary remains from the Tamil works such as the Kural and its anterior Silappadikāram and Maṇimakhalai provide cumulative evidence that Kundakunda was of Dravidian origin and leader of the Dravida sangha, and he was highly cultured in more than one language. The Kural or Tirukkural, the most popular Tamil classic, is attributed to Kundakunda, his another name being Elācārya. Thus,
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