New Dimensions in Jaina Logic

Author(s): Mahaprajna Acharya, Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Today and Tommorrow Printers and Publishers

Page 170

APPENDIX – 3
Brief life-sketches of the Authors of the Works on Logic.
1. Abhayadeva (10-11th century A.D.)
He was a disciple of Pradyumna Sūri belonging to the Candra family and Candra order (gaccha). The family of his students and disciples whom he initiated was very large and was divided into many sections. Many learned scholars came of this family and many of these scholars earned great honour from the kings. Nothing is known about his caste, parentage and birth-place. The area of his tour was Rajasthan and Gujarat. Two of his disciples, Dhaneśvara and Jineśvara were highly learned. He wrote a commentary entitled Tattvabodhavidhāyini on the Sanmatitarka. Its other title is Vādamahārnava.
2. Abhayatilaka (14th century A.D.)
It is quite possible that he was a classfellow of Somatilaka Sūri. He was having the status of a preceptor (upādhyāya). He wrote many works like Nyāyālańkāravrtti, Tarkanyāyasūtratīka, Pañcaprasthanyāyatarkavyākhyā etc.
3. Akalanka (8th Century A.D.)
He was born in the house of Purusottama (also named as Laghuhavva or Laghuavva), the minister of King Subhatunga (Răstrakūta Emperor Krsnarāja I) of the city of Manyakheta in the province of Karnataka.* The name of his mother was Jinamatí. 'Bhatta' was his family title. His brother's name was Niskalanka. Once the two brothers lived in a Buddhist monastery to study Buddhistic logic. It was leaked there that they were Jaina. Niskalanka was killed; but Akalanka somehow escaped. After getting the status of an ācārya for himself he had a debate with the Bauddhas in the court of Himasītala, the king of Kalinga. The opponents installed goddess Tārā in an earthen pot and by virtue of her power became invincible. Akalanka knew this secret. He invoked the deity of his order and after breaking the pot defeated the Bauddhas in the debate
*In the Rajabalīkathe, a work in Kannada by Devacandra, the name of his father has been mentioned as Jinadāsa Brāhmana.