Nyayavatara and Nayakarnika

Author(s): Siddhasena Divakar, Vinayvijay, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Jain Sahitya Vikas Mandal

Page 99

Siddhasena and his Works
APPENDIX-The Kalyanamandira-stotra is an important hymn among the Svetambaras, its popularity being shared only with the Bhaktamara-stotra of Manatunga. JACOBI attributed its authorship to Kumudacandra which name is alluded in the Stotra itself. Traditionally it is attributed to Siddhasena Divakara, a contemporary of Vikramaditya. JACOBI held a different opinion and here some additional evidence is given to support him.
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It is only in the 14th century that the personality of Kumudacandra got merged into that of Siddhasena as it is clear from the Prabhavakacarita. In earlier accounts there is no reference to this. The Kalyāṇamandira-stotra is associated with the miracle performed by Siddhasena at Ujjaini. There is, however, some inconsistency in the narration.
Kumudacandra was a different person. This is clear from the manuscripts of the Cikura-Dvātrimsika which also mentions Kumudacandra prefixed by the term jana. Both these hymns have similarity in style. Siddhasena cannot be their author because of the stylistic differences. Prior to the 13th century A. D. the Kalyanamandira is not attributed to Siddhasena. Kumudacandra is not mentioned in any Gurvavali nor can it be identified with the Digambara Kumudacandra (c. 1125 A.D). It is to be presumed that Kumudacandra was a Svetambara. He flourished in the 12th century A.D. for the following reasons: 1) He is mentioned in the Prabhavakacarita. 2) Cikura-Dvātrimśikā contains the word hevāka of Parsian and Arabic origin, not current before the 11th century A.D. 3) No older commentary on the Kalyāṇamandira is available. 4) The ornate style has the smell of the age of Jayadeva.
The last verse of Cikura- Dva mentions the word Ravi probably denoting Divakara.
There is another work Vardhamana Dvātrimsika which resembles the Kalyanamandira and Cikura-Dvātrimśikā in style and form. It is considered to be not a work Siddhasena though this name occurs at the end. It is not unlikely that this also might be the work of Kumudacandra, known afterwards as Siddhasena. The Kalyanamandira is worthy of a great poet who can stand comparison even with Kālidāsa in style and expression.