Portrait of Jain Religion

Author(s): Narendra Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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works. Among them Samayasaar stands out as the most original contribution to the digambar jain philosophy. In the Mangalacharan, Digambars include his name after Bhagawan Mahavir and Ganadhar Gautam Swamy as follows:
Mangalam Bhagwan Viro, mangalam Gautam gani Mangalam Kundakundaryo, Jaina dharmostu mangalam. However, it was only 150 years later at the third conference in Valabhi in 520 A.D. led by Acharya Devardhigani Kshamashramana that the Mathura and Valabhi versons were synchronised, and the process of writing them down commenced. This historic conference was attended by renowned saints like Nagarjuna, Kalkacharya, Jinabhadraguni,Skandilacharya,, Dhaneshwar Suri, Haribhadra Shilank and others The tradition of constantly enriching religious literature continued in the coming centuries. Notably Acharya Sidhasen Diwakar wrote KALYAN SUTRA and SANMATI-TARKA systematically explaining in particular the principle of Anekantvad. Acharya Haribhadra Suri (705-755 A.D.) wrote 1444 books among them DASAVAIKALIKA-Tika, ANUYOGADWARA and Yoga Drishti Samuchchaya. Silanka Suri wrote commentaries on Acaranga and Sutrakrtanga in 700 A.D. Acharya Haribhadra Suri wrote Shravaka Dharma Samas in 900 A.D. Abhayadev Suri wrote commentaries on 9 out of 11 Angas in 1100 A.D. Hemchandra Suri composed over 30 million shlokas (stanzas) and the renowned Vyakaran with 3568 sutras in 900 A.D. Between 10th to 19th centuries, noteworthy literature was created by great saints like Jineshwar Suri (11th century), Upadhyay Jinpal (13th century), Shekhar Suri (15th century), Acharya Hemchandra Suri (11-12th century), Acharya Jawaharlal, Devbhadra Suri and others. It was on the inspiration of Acharya Hemchandra that King Kumarpal issued a Declaration on Ahimsa, and propagated universal adoption of vegetarianism and practice of compassion in his kingdom.
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A Portrait of Jain Religion