Rasratna Samucchay

Author(s): Manikyadevsuri
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Origin of Vatagaccha1
Sri Udyotana Suri, the last Acarya of Vanavasigaccha conferred Suripada on Sarvadeva Sūri and others at a time in Viranirvāņa Samvat 1464, VS. 994 (931 A.D) under a Banyan tree (Vatavṛksa) on the border of Teligaon situated at the foot of Mount Abu during his pilgrimate to this place. So this gachha started by Sarvadeva Suri, the thirty-sixth Acarya in the line of Nirgarantha gaccha came to be known as Vaţagaccha. This gaccha flourished like a Banyan tree with its branches, flowers and fruits.
The earliest inscription of this gaccha found at Koțara in old Sirohi State in Rajasthan is assigned to 1068 A D. and the next one obtained at Nadol in Marwar3 to 1158 A.D. This gaccha was very much active at Sirohi4 in the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries A.D. Besides it appears from the findspots of the inscriptions of this gaccha at Udaipur and Jaisalmer that it flourished also there in the 14th and 15th centuries A.D.
According to the Svetambara tradition. many peta gacchas (branches) issued forth from the disciples of Udyotana Sūri (1st half of the 10th Century A. D.). They probably originated at different times and places after Udyotana Sūri.
Identification of Manikyadeva Suri :
Rasaratna
Sri Manikyadeva Sūri, the author of the Samuccaya, appears to be the same Manikyadeva Suri of
(1) Pattavali Samuccaya, Part-I, P. 53; Paṭṭāvali Saroddhāra, P. 152; Sramaņa Bhagavan Mahavira, Vol. V, Pt. II, Sthaviravall, P. 2.
(2) Prachin Lekha Saṁgraha Pt 1 No. 3.
(3) Nahar Jaina Inscription No. 833 and 834.
(4) Arbudacala Pradakṣinā Jaina Lekha Samdoha.
(5) Nahar Jaina Inscriptions, Pt. I, II and III, vide Jainism in Rajasthan, Dr. K. C. Jain, P. 58.