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The Preceptors / 75
Following are the details as recorded in the Mandalinād inscriptions:
Well-versed in the ten forms of righteousness (the Uttama Kşamādi daśa-dharmas, the ten commandments of the Jaina church), possessing the auspicious wealth of immaculate virtues, a sight of pleasure for the devotees was the ācārya Siṁhanandi. He, bearing the stamp of radiance of fame reaching the four sea shore, free and far away from all impurities, a sun to the sky of Krāņurgana, was dedicated to the practice of performing the 12 varities of penance. When he was indulged in his daily penance and leading the life of austerity at the outskirts of the Ganga Perūr, Dadiga and Madhava, Ksatriya brothers in distress, approached the ascetic.
The revered Simhanandi ācārya who carefully listened to the grievances narrated by the forlorn brothers. The adept monk, taking pity, made them indulge in the proper education. After some days, Simhanandi invoked the goddess Padmavatidevi who blessed them with a boon, a sword and a kingdom. Mādhava, revered by the learned, with all his might struck the stone pillar column which broke with a cracking noise. Convinced with the power of Mādhava, prophet Simhanandi placed a coronet of the petals of Karņņikāra flower, blessed them by scattering rice grains (akşata). Thus, the saint with a pleased mind gave them a kingdom with a crest and cognizance, making his piñca, peacock feather whisk broom a signal flag for them, furnished with numerous attendants, elephants and horses.
Simhanandi ācārya's matured wisdom was such, that while establishing a kingdom for his laic followers with all required infrastructure, he also laid down for his protege, rightly swept up in the spirit of the age and history:
If you fail in what you have promised If you do not approve of the Jaina teachings If you seize the wife of another If you eat honey or flesh If you form relationships with low people
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