Life of Hemchandracharya

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

Page 56

CHAPTER VI.-HEMACANDRA'S ACCOUNT OF KUMĀRAPĂLA'S CONVERSION 37 known so little as yet, is to be mentioned. The tradition of the Jaina-scholars assumes that Hemacandra wrote six small works of this name. However, only three of them are so far discovered. Two give short survey of botanic names while the third deals with precious stones. It is not improbable that these works were written in imitation of the older Dhanvantarinighantu and the Ratnapariksa. Also in these works one misses that hint that they were written at the king's command. However, a doubt may be raised at least with regard to the Seṇakhya Namamala, whether it was written between V. S. 1199 and 1214/15, for the same has been inserted in many MSS. in the Commentary of the Abhidhanacintamani and this latter belongs, as will be shown below, to the last years of Hemacandra's life. The Des'indmamala, on the other hand, was probably written shortly before Hemacandra's acquaintance with Kumarapala. For, Hemacandra suggests in the third verso of the Introduction and says in the explanation of the same verse (pp. 2-3) quite expressly that he had previously completed not only his Grammar but also his Sanskrit-Kosas and his Manual of Poetics. On the other hand, the commentary, which was certainly written later, contains no less than fifteen verses in which the king is mentioned by name, while in nine others the designation Calukya or Culukya occurs and a great number of them are addressed simply to the king. These verses, all of which are applicable to Kumarapala, praise his heroic deeds, describe the greatness of his glory and the misery of his focs, or praise his generosity. In one place, there seems also an allusion to a particular historical event. It is said in VI, 118:
"O Thou, whoso courage emits unbroken sparks, O Lord of the goddess of Victory, does not thy fame ramble about freely, just like an unchasto Capḍala-woman,
even in the Palli-land"
The Palli-land is the district of Pali in Rajputänä between Jodhpur and Ajmer. It is to be recognised, therefore, that in this verse there is an allusion to Kumarapala's victory over Arporaja, the king of Sapädalakṣa, or Sakambhari-Sambhar.
Whatever may be thought of this verse, there remains, however, the very conspicuous fact that Hemacandra in the Commentary to his Desinämamälä glorifies only the victory and the bravery of Kumarapala but does not speak of his piety and of his faith in the Jaina tenets. This fact strengthens the conclusion that this work was written after Hemacandra had obtained access to Kumarapala's court, but before he began his work of conversion. Therefore, the date of the compilation of the Commentary must roughly be V.S. 1214-15. The above-mentioned fact further gives a scent as to the way and manner in which Hemacandra began to win the favour of the king. First of all, he appears to have made use of his temporal art and worldly knowledge to create a favourable impression. After his introduction by his patron, the minister Vägbhata, he probably received the permission to appear at the usual daily audience of the scholars. His position is naturally prominent from the outset. His reputation as a scholar had been for long firmly established and it could not have failed to influence Kumarapala, even if the latter began to study, as an anecdote given by Merutunga reports, the sciences just in his old age. Hemacandra would certainly not have hidden his light under a bushel but would have rediated it through his deep erudition at the discussions of the scholars in the king's presence, Apart from the strictly scientific accomplishments, he undoubtedly influenced the king