Lilavati Sara

Author(s): Jinratnasuri, H C Bhayani, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 12

Introduction
Jinaratna-suri, the author of the Lilāvati-sära
In the third line of the 13th verse of the Granthakāra-prasasti given at the end of the LS., there is a lacura in the MS. at the very place where the author's name has been given. But on the basis of the label on the wrapper of the Jesalmer Ms., and the mention by means of the figure Mudrālankāra based on paranomasia (ślesa) appearing in the last line of LS. 19. 59, it has been rightly understood that Jinaratna-sūri was the author of LS.
In the Prasasti, Jinaratna has given details about his gurx-parampard, his teachers and the composition of LS. He begins the guru-parampard with Vardhamana-sūri, whose disciple Jincśvara-sūri was highly respected by Durlabharāja, the (Caulukya) king of Gurjaratrā (Gujarat). Jinesvara had composed works on religious conduct and logic, had written commen taries on the Astaka etc. and was the author of the Campū kathả called Liliāvatī. His disciple Jinacandra-sūri was the author of Sarievega-ranga-sala. The latter's disciple was Abhayadeva-sûri, who had written commentarios on nine Angas of the Jain canon. Abhayadeva-sūri was followed by his disciple Jinavallabha-suri, who had written many excellent works. The latteņu disciple was Jinadatta-sūri, who was honoured by many kings. Jinadatta-sūri's disciple was Jinacandra-süri who defeated many opponents in religious debates. The latter's diciple was Jinapati-sūri, who was followed by Jineśvara-sūri. Jineśvara-sūri did much to strengthen the Vidhi-mārga and had numerous disciples. He was followed by Jinaprabodha-sūri, who was at the time of the completion of LS. the chief Acārya of the Vidhi Gaccha. Jinaratna was one of the disciples of Jinesvara-sūri.
Jinaratna learnt literature from Sarvadeva-sūri, logic from Vijayadeva-. sūri and the canonical texts from....(There is a lacuna here in the Ms.)
The Lilavati was composed by Jipeśvara-sūri in 1092 y. S. and its abridgement was prepared by Jinaratna in 1341 V. S. Jinaratna collaborated with Lakşmitilaka in writing Pratyekabuddhacaritas... and his elder brother (?) collaborated with hira in preparing this abridgement of the Lilavati, which was completed at Jäbälipura (modern Jhalor in Rajasthan) in the month of Mārgaśırsa in Puşya Yoga. Its extant is 5350 Granthāgras. Jinaprabodha-sūri, Rajakirtiganin and Saumyamurti.
3. This is confirmed by the poct. As noted by M.D. Desbai (under para 588, p. 410 of his Jain Sahitya-no Samkşipta Itihas, 1933), the Pratyekabuddhacarita has in the last verse of cvery of its Sargas the word iina-laksmi by way of Mudrälankāra. The poem was completed in 1255 A.D.