Kundakunda Acharya and Jain Philosophy

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

Page 17

It has been written as follows:
"Had Shri Padmanandinaath (Shri Kundakunda Acharya Dev) not enlightened with the Divine Knowledge gained from the present Tirthankar Shri Seemandhar Swamy of Videhakshetra, how could the Munies know the true path?"
In another reference, Acharya Kundakunda has been called the Omniscient of Kalikal. He had four other names also i.e. Padmanandi, Vakragreeva Acharya, Ela Acharya and Griddhapicha Acharya. Thus, under Jain history, Shri Kundakunda Acharya was a unique personality. He was known for his vast knowledge. He was considered so pious and his knowledge so supreme and authentic that even Devas had special regards for him.
The commentary on the Moksha Prabhrita written by Surishwara Shri Shrutasagar has stated that this Shata Prabhrita Scripture written by the Omniscient of Kalikal (Bhagwan Kundakunda Acharya Dev) who was known by five names, i.e., Padmanandi, Kundakunda Acharya, Vakragreeva Acharya, Ela Acharya, Gridhapichha Acharya and who had the quality of walking in the sky, four anguls (height measured in fingers) over the earth, and who had worshipped Shri Seemandhar Bhagwan in Videhakshetra and with the knowledge gained from him through hearing who had awakened the great souls of Bharatavarsha, and who was like an ornament in the Patta of Shri Jinachandrasuri Battaraka. This version has been given at the end of the commentary written by Shri Shrutasagar Suri on Shata Prabhrita. In Jain literature, there are so many references about the greatness of Bhagwan Kundakunda Acharya Dev. There are so many inscriptions also in this regard. For example, an inscription on Chandragiri Mountain reads -
"He was famous in all the directions and was worshipped by the great saints. He provided in written form the oral gospels of Jainism in Bharat Kshetra. Who will not worship such a great soul, Bhagwan Kundakunda Acharya on this earth ?"
An inscription on Vindhyagiri reads - "Yateendra (Shri Kundakunda Acharya) used to walk in the sky four anguls (at a height of four fingers) over the earth. I understand from this that by doing so he used to express that he was absolutely away from dust from inside as well as