Nav Smarana

Author(s): Vinod Kapashi
Publisher: Vinod Kapashi

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are held in great esteem and only the readers pursuing Jain studies at advance level seek to read his works. Siddhasena's famous work is a book, the Sanmati Tarka, wherein he has explained the philosophy of standpoints (nayavada) in minute detail. He has also composed many dwatrinshikas (books or poems containing thirty two verses each).
Both Shvetämbara and Digambara sects mention Siddhasena Diwäkar's name with utmost respect. Many Digambara scholars have written detailed commentaries on the Sanmati Tarka, mentioned above.
Shvetämbara ächärya like Haribhadra-Soori and Hemchandra ächärya have mentioned Siddhasena's name as a great scholar and the best among poets.
As regards his birth year and birth place, one can deduce from the Prabhävak Charitra that Siddhasena's family lived during the time of King Vikram in Ujjaini and that his father's name was Devarshi and his mother's name was Devasika. This statement at least leads one to believe that Siddhasena lived during the first century BCE because King Vikram was the ruler of Ujjaini at the same time.
The calendar most widely used by most Hindus in India is the Vikram Calendar, and one can add fifty-seven to the Christian year to get the Vikram year because Vikram's coronation took place fifty seven years before the Gregorian calendar began.
Now, we will explore another interesting point about the time of Siddhasena Diwäkar. Pandit Sukhlälji Sanghavi and Shri Bechardäs Doshi's names are regarded in high esteem in Jain literary circles. These two scholars of the 20th century have written a book with a detailed commentary on Sanmati Prakrana - a book of logic by Siddhasena Diwäkar. In the prologue to the book, the authors write: All traditions tend to consider Siddhasena's time as same as that of King Vikram's and that he lived in Ujjaini', but there is a dispute about the real Vikram and where he was born, therefore in deciding who was born with reference to Vikram's time does not help us at all.
Siddhasena and his books are mentioned by two great Jain ächäryas: One is Haribhadra-Soori who existed in the 8th century AD, and the other is Jinabhadragani of the 7th century AD. References by these two monks suggest that Siddhasena was born sometimes before the 7th century AD.
Now we also know that Siddhasena's guru was Vriddhavädi, and Vriddhavädi's guru was Skandil. Skandil's time has been deduced from the fact that he presided at one of the conferences which was held in the 5th century AD. Thus, Siddhasena Diwäkar was probably born in the sixth century AD.
But one may never be able to find out Siddhasena Diwäkar's actual dates, nor may we find out whether Siddhasena Diwakar was the author of the Kalyan Mandir Stotra or
not.
Sanmati Prakrana, Page 74, Gujarat Vidyapeeth 1972
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