Kundakunda Acharya and Jain Philosophy

Author(s): Jayantilal Jain
Publisher: Research Foundation for Jainology Chennai

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ACHARYA KUNDAKUNDA AND JAIN PHILOSOPHY
I INTRODUCTION
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Teachings are endless Time at our disposal is short Our Wisdom is misdirected Hence Learn only that Ends Births and Deaths
-- Acharya Kundakunda,
Ashtapahud
Even if teachings of Kundakunda Acharya are inscribed on plates made of gold and letters made of diamonds, the value of his teachings can never be assessed. Such is the overwhelming importance of Kundakunda Acharya in Jain Philosophy. The Jain Philosophy is not founded by anybody at any time in History. It predates known history. In the infinite cycle of time, it is revealed by sages from time to time. It has been like that in the infinite past and it will remain the same in the infinite cycle of time in future. It is a science which explains the true nature and behaviour of substance/matters in the Universe. Soul being one of the matters, it has its own process of purification. This process of purification of Soul and the nature of other matters have been revealed by Thirathankaras / Arihantas from time to time and communicated to generations and generations by Acharyas and other great scholars. In the current cycle of time, twentyfour such Thirathankaras were born, the last being Mahavira. The present available Jain literature stems from teachings of Mahavira and have been ably communicated by his disciple Gautam. But among the Acharyas who have enunciated teachings in the present Jain literature, Kundakunda Acharya remains the most prominent Acharya who re-establishes Mahavira's teachings with its pristine grandeur, depth and spirit, after about six hundred years of Mahavira Nirvana and is being continuously remembered and revered by all seekers of truth since last two thousand years. He explained the nature of pure-self and also taught the art of self-realisation. His Philosophy constitutes the science of self-modification. It serves as a hand book for Jain ascetics and is a short cut to self-realisation and Moksha.