________________
FOREWORD
I . . S. SRIPALL I.P.S.. Chairman, Research Foundation for Jainology
உணராஜதி ஸ ஜந்தா
500260002T WOJ:!
The above is the 254th inscription found in the list of inscriptions traced at Sravana Belgola in Karnataka State. The meaning of this inscription is that due to good deeds performed by the people of the world a great Saint KUNDA KUNDA was born.
Prof. A. Chakravarthi, of whom I am a great admirer and who is my uncle, published in the Jaina Gazette of 1922 a Pattavali of Gurupeetam according to which Sri Kunda Kunda came to the Gurupeetam four years after the death of Christ. A foreign Scholar Hoerule also drew a Pattavali. Judge J.L. Jain who printed Tatvarta Sutra in the preface has also given a Pattavali.
The Tamil tradition believes that the year of birth of Sri Kunda Kunda was 64 A.D and he ascended the Gurupeetam in the year 108 A.D.
Sri Kunda Kunda's leadership, erudition and purity of Soul was mentioned in a Sloka in the book which is known as "Jwalamalini Amman Manthra Lakshnam".
A Banaras publication long time back enumerates Sri Kunda Kunda's works thus : . (i) 52 Granthas in Prakrit (ii) Commentary of 12000 Slokas on "Shatkandagamam" First three Chapters.
"Shatkandagamam" was authored by Bouthabali and Pushpadantha.
