Sambodhi 1982 Vol 11

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 28

The Pancagranthi-Vyakaraña of Buddhisagarasūri
The account appears in the canto on Abhuyadeva sūri due to the fact that he was disciple of both Jineśvarasūri and Buddisāgarasūri as has been clearly mentioned by him towards the close of his Vștti on Haribbadrasūri's Pancāśaka-graothāḥ 21 He completed this Vitti in the year 1124 af Vikrama Era, i.e. 1067 A.D 22 Prabbācandrasūri notes that prior to his initiation in the Jaina order, Abhayadevasüri was known as Abhayakumāra the son of a merchant named Mahădhara and his wife Dharadevi in Dhārā, and that he was intiated by Jinesvara üri.23 At the instance of Vardha. māna ūri, his disciple Jineśvarasūri later on consecreted him as 'suri, 24 It seems Abhayadevasūri refers to Buddhisagarasuri too as his 'Guru' in the sense that the latter was equally revered to him as the co-disciple of his initiator Jineśvarasūri.
Apart from Abhayadevasūri, there are other Jaina monks who have alluded to Baddisāgarasūri. Thus, Dhanesvara the author of the Prakrit Surasundari-cariyain (1095 V. San., 1038 A.D.)25, Jinacandra the autho: of Samvegarangaśālā (1125 V. Sam., 1068 A.D.), Gunacandra in his Mahāviracarita (1139 V. Sam; 1082 A.D.) and Padmaprabha in his Kunthunāthacarita are known to have mentioned our author.26
A slightly different account about the life of both Jinesvarasūri and Buddhisāgarasūri is preserved in the Pattāvali of the Kharataragaccha 27 It mentions that both these teachers were originally the two brothers named Sivadāsa and Buddhisāgara and sons of a Brabmin named Soma. When these brothers were going on a pilgrimage to Someśvara Mahādeva, along with their sister Kalyāṇavail, hey halted at a city named Sārasa and prayed to the god, who enjoined them to approach Vardhamāpasūri to get their wishes fulfilled. Thus both these brothers got their initiation into the Jaina monachal order at the hands of Vardhamānatūri, who gave a new name 'Jinesvara' to Sivadāsa, and retained the old one of Buddhi sägara. The same source further adds that the name of the royal priest of Durlabharaja was Sivasarmã and that he was the maternal uncle of these brothers.28 The account of their encounter with the Caityavāsi monks is mentioned here too with more colours, but without the mention of the donation of land by the Saivite. But it adds one more detail that Durla. bharāja was much impressed by the strict adherence to Jainistic conduct on the part of Jineśvara, and remarked that he was very sharp (ati khara) in exposing the looseness of the Caityavāsi monks, and that then onwards Jinesvarasūri accepted tbe title 'Kharatara' since the year 1080 V. Sam., i.e., 1023 A.D.29
The account is at variance with the records of the contemporaries like Abhayadevasűri and Jinesvarasuri both of whom deciare ibat Jinesva.