Sanmati Tarka

Author(s): Siddhasen Divakarsuri, Sukhlal Sanghavi, Bechardas Doshi, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Education Board Paydhoni Mumbai

Page 42

1 SIDDHASENA DIVĀKARA
Jaina scriptures into Samskpta and asked bis Sangha to allow him to do so. The head of the Sanghạ was highly enraged and indignantly said to Divā kara, “If Yugapradbāna Ācārya (eminent Ācārya) like you can bave such an aversion to Prāksta, then what of persons like us? We have heard from traditions that formerly there were 14 Pürvas but they were throughly unintelligible to ordinary men and were forgotten in course of time. The présent 11 Angas 'were composed in Prāksta dilect by Sudharmaswāmi specially with a view to make them intelligible to children, women and uneducated men. Under these circumstances how can you afford to slight the Prāksta dilect in such a manner ?”. The leader of the Sangha further added, “You are a sinner, in that you have contemplated in thought and word this translation of the scriptures into Sanskrta. For this sin of yours a serious Prāyaścitta named Pārāñcika is mentioned in our Šāstras. In it a Jaina monk is required to remain incognito for 12 years, to give up his Gaccha and to practice austere penances. Unless you undergo such a Práyascitta, you cannot purge yourself of this grave sin ; of course if during this interval you glorify Jainism in a conspicuous manner, you will be absolved of this sin even before the stipulated period and yon can regain your former position.". Siddhasena thereupon humbly accepted the decision of the head of the Sangha, left his Guccha and went away to practise penance. Seven years passed in this manner After that he once came to Ujjaina. There he straight way went to the Royal Court and sent the following message through the door keeper,