Life of Hemchandracharya

Author(s): Manilal Patel
Publisher: Singhi Jain Shastra Shiksha Pith Mumbai

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CHAPTER III.-HEMACANDRA AND JAYASIMHA-SIDDHARĀJA
whom Hemacandra also praised as the Paramatman. The last station on the journey was Kotinagara, the modern Kodinara in Sorath, where the temple of Ambika existed. Jayasimha prayed to the Goddess that she might grant him a son. Hemacandra joined his prayers to those of the king and fasted for three days. Then there appeared Ambika to him and informed him that Jayasimha would get no progeny but would have to leave his kingdom to Kumarapala,"
The same story is found with some omissions and additions in Jinamandana. The visit of Girnar is omitted therein as well as the anecdote of Sajjana's temple and Hemacandra's worship of Siva. On the other hand, it is said, Jayasimha went, after his visit to Kotinagara-or Koținări according to the Prakrit from-once again to Somanathapattana in order to make his request to Siva. The god appeared in person to the king, and refused to grant him a son." Wholly different is the story, in Merutunga. He is well acquainted with the pilgrimage of Jayasimha. He, however, knows nothing about Hemacandra's taking part in it, and he therefore assumes that Hemacandra composed the verse to Siva which is quoted in the Prabhavakacaritra, while on a visit to Somanathapattana, which visit he made much later in company with Kumarapala. According to him the route of the march was, also, quite different. The king visited first of all Somanathapattana. On his return, he encamped at the foot of Girnär; he did not however climb on the mountain, for the envious Brahmins declared to him that the mountain looked like a Linga standing in a water-tank and therefore must not be trodden by foot. From Girnar, so it is said by Merutunga, Jayasimha wended his way to Satrunjaya and visited the temples there, despite the opposition of his Brahmin advisers, by night and in disguise. Merutunga also mentions the grant of twelve villages. In the same way he knows the story of Sajjana; but he does not bring it in connection with the pilgrimage." Nor does he mention the visit to Kotinagara. Now, if one compares what Hemacandra himself has written about Jayasimha's pilgrimage in the Dvyas'raya, one sees that the description of the Prabhavakacaritra is decidedly false, while Merutunga's account thereof also contains errors. The Duyas'raya differs from the Prabhavakacaritra in that it is silent on Hemacandra's participation in the pilgrimage, in that the route of the march is defferent, although it is the same as given by Merutunga, and in that there is no reference to a visit to Kotinagara and to the revelation of Ambika. On the contrary, it is assumed that Siva revealed himself to Jayasimha in Somanathapattana and informed him of Kumarapala's destiny. Going against Merutunga's statement, the Deyda'raya affirms that Jayasimha climbed the hill Girnär and there worshipped the Neminatha. Lastly, he contradicts both the Prabhavakacaritra and Merutunga by reporting that from Girnar Jayasimha did not go to Satruñjaya but took the direct route to Simhapur or Sihor, and by saying nothing about the alleged grant of land to the shrine of the first Jina. As Hemacandra quite carefully takes note in the Dvyas'raya of all other favours granted to his own faith, his silence in this case is very significant."
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To these stories from the Prabhavakacaritra, Merutunga adds three others, one of which is mentioned also by Jinamandana. The first two of these are intended to show Homacandra's erudition. It is said that he alone could explain a Sanskrit verse