Kundakunda Acharya and Jain Philosophy

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

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set of Principles (Scriptures) was born. Under this School of Thought, the object is to acquire knowledge about the pure self or pure soul. This is known as real or pure point of view of the matter. It focuses on the nature of pure self devoid of karmas or worldly life. In other words, this relates to the pure self of Moksha. Thus, it becomes the real or fundamental view point. So long as a soul is governed by knowledge of the form of existence, it continues to be in the world, i.e., goes through the cycle of births and deaths. When a soul acquires the knowledge of the pure self, it distinguishes itself from karmas and other matters and experiences the pure nature of the self and this ultimately causes disappearance of karmas and achievement of Moksha.
It is in view of this overwhelming importance of real or fundamental view point that after Bhagwan Mahavir and Gautam Gariadhar, the third prominent place has been often awarded to Acharya Kundakunda. li is obvious from these fines,
Mangalam Bhagwan veero, Mangalam Gautamo ganee Mangalam Kunda Kundadyo, Jain Dharmostu mangalam
The scriptures composed by Kundakunda Acharya are treated as authentic as the utterances of Shri Ganadhardeva. Samayasaraa, Panchastikaaya, Pravachansaraa, Niyamsara, Barah Anuvekkha, Moolachar, Darshan Praabhrat, etc. are the main scriptures written by Kundakunda Acharya. The scriptures of Kundakunda Acharya are quoted by the other authors to prove the authenticity of their version. Generations of Jain Sadhus have taken it as a matter of dignity to be called themselves belonging to the School of Thought of Kundakunda Acharya. The Jains feel deeply obliged to him for imbibing and communicating Philosophy of Bhagwan Mahavir (Ang Jnan) to present generation and is available to us even after about 2500 years.
In Vikram Samwata 990, Devasen Acharya has written in his book named 'Darshnasara' that had Shri. Padmanandinath (Shri Kundakunda Acharya) not imparted to the Jains the knowledge gained by him directly from the present Tirthankara Shri Seemamdhar Swamy of Videhakshetra, it would have been difficult for the Jains to know the real path.