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Niyamasāra
नियमसार
Acārya Kundakunda has not mentioned his name in any of the texts that he had authored. However, in 'Bodhapāhuda', he introduces himself as a disciple (śisya) of (Ācārya) Bhadrabāhu, the last śrutakevalī:
सद्दवियारो हूओ भासासुत्तेसु जं जिणे कहियं । सो तह कहियं णायं सीसेण य भद्दबाहुस्स ॥६०॥
The disciple (sisya) of (Acārya) Bhadrabāhu has elucidated here the same path that has been expounded by Lord Jina (the Victor) in his discourses that were in form of language comprising words. वारसअंगवियाणं चउदसपुव्वंगविउलवित्थरणं । सुयणाणिभद्दबाहू गमयगुरु भयवओ जयओ ॥६१॥
Victory to my eminent preceptor (guru) śrutakevali Bhadrabāhu, knower of the twelve departments (dvādaśānga) and fourteen pūrva, with their extensive elaboration!
The idea that Ācārya Kundakunda had access to the Doctrine of Lord Jina through the śrutakevali is further corroborated by the first verse of his composition, 'Samayasāra':
वंदित्तु सव्वसिद्धे धुवमचलमणोवमं गदिं पत्ते । वॉच्छामि समयपाहुडमिणमो सुदकेवलीभणिदं ॥१-१-१॥
O bhavya (potential aspirants to liberation)! Making obeisance to all the Siddha, established in the state of existence that is eternal, immutable, and incomparable (perfection par excellence), I will articulate this Samayaprābhrta, which has been expounded by the all-knowing Master of the Scripture - śrutakevalī.
This establishes that Acārya Kundakunda was a disciple (sisya), most likely through lineage (paramparā), of śrutakevali Bhadrabāhu and thus had access to the true Doctrine of Lord Jina.
There is another aspect of the glory of Acārya Kundakunda. In the same treatise (“Samayasāra'), he avers that this composition is based on direct experience of the ineffable glory of own soul. Only the advanced ascetics
(xviii)
