Pravachansara

Author(s): Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp Printers

Page 12

Pravacanasăra
Acārya Kundakunda has not mentioned his name in any of the texts that he had authored. However, in 'Bodhapahuḍa', he introduces himself as a disciple (śisya) of (Acarya) Bhadrabahu, the last śrutakevali:
सद्दवियारो हूओ भासात्तेसु जं जिणे कहियं ।
सो तह कहियं णायं सीसेण य भद्दबाहुस्स ||60|
The disciple (śisya) of (Acārya) Bhadrabahu 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 ॥61॥
Victory to my eminent preceptor (guru) śrutakevalī Bhadrabāhu, knower of the twelve departments (dvādaśānga) and fourteen pūrvas, with their extensive elaboration!
The idea that Acārya Kundakunda had access to the Doctrine of Lord Jina through the śrutakevali is further corroborated by the first verse of his composition, 'Samayasara":
वंदित्तु सव्वसिद्धे धुवमचलमणोवमं गदिं पत्ते ।
वच्छामि समयपाहुडमिणमो सुदकेवलीभणिदं ॥1-1-1॥
O bhavyas (potential aspirants to liberation)! Making obeisance to all the Siddhas, established in the state of existence that is eternal, immutable, and incomparable (perfection par excellence), I will articulate this Samayaprabhṛta, which has been expounded by the all-knowing Master of the Scripture - śrutakevali.
This establishes that Acārya Kundakunda was a disciple (śisya), most likely through lineage (parampara), of śrutakevali Bhadrabahu 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 (Samayasara), he avers that this composition is based on direct experience of the ineffable glory of own soul. Only advanced
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