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This fits in well with the statement of the Prabhavakacarita that Hemachandra studied in the next twelve years after ordination "Logic and Dialectics as well as Grammar and Poetics and that he mastered these subjects at once on accont of the power of his intelligence which shone clear and pure as light."300 The underlined expression incidentally tallies with Hem achandra's definition of natural genius (K.A.S. 1.5). And Hemachandra's later scholarly attainments show that the statement of the Prabhavakacarita as to his capacities is right and that he must have indeed possessed more than ordinary power of intellect. 301
Hemachandra's term of apprenticeship came to a close in V. S. 1166 (or 1110 A.D.) as he was then ordained as a Sūri or Acarya, an independent exponent of the Holy Scripture and a successor of his teacher."302 Thus we find that he acquired the name Hemachandrachārya as per the custom of the Jain ascetics, at the age of twentyone.
Hemachandra's acquaintance and friendship with two of Gujarat's most illustrious Kings, Siddharaja Jaisimha and his successor Kumarapala, provides a glorious chapter as much in the history of Gujarat as in the history of Sanskrit Literature. Leaving aside questions of how and why and when Hemachandra came into close contact with these two kings, we would do well to focus our attention on the literary outcome of this contact. And in these terms Hemachandra's achievement is stupendous by any standard.
To begin with, it was at Siddharaja's instance that Hemachandra composed his magnum opus, the Siddhahema grammatical treatise. This was the first great technical work in his Anuśāsana series. It was fittingly called 'The Sabdanuśāsana' and the title 'Siddhahemachandra' was given to it to commemorate his deep respect for and love towards the King Siddharaja who was a great lover of belles-lettres. Siddharāja entrusted Hemachandra with the preparation of a new grammar
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