________________
23
installed as Ganadhisa-Pattadhara (the greatest amongst a group of ascetics.)
In V. S. 1159 Punamia-gac'cha came into existence, and for its preachings, Sri Munic'andra Sūri arranged for "Pāksiksaptatika.
This Munic'andra Suri had many pupils like Ajitdeva Suri, Vādı Déva Suri etc. Out of them Vadi Sri Déva Suri had won 84 debates in the court of Siddharaja that was wellknown for its scholars in Aşahillapur Pâțan and had thus won reputation Moreover he had managed through the king to have prohibition for the Digambaras to enter Patana by defeating in debate Kūmîdacandrâcârya wellknown as a great debater. Both these facts are well known even at present Besides, in V. S. 1204, he got a Jaina temple constructed in Falvardhi (Falo. dhi ) and got an image installed in it The holy place is famous upto this time He installed the shrine of Neminath in the city of Arasan-nagar. He prepared a book called Syâdväda-Ratnākasa which contains 84000 verses and which is considered to be an authority. From him, started 24 branches of sages (sūris) each deriving its name from the name of its own Sûri This VadiDéva Sūri was born in 1134, was initiated into the Jaina asceticism in 1152, was given the place of Āc'ârya ( a high priest) in 1174 and he left the world on the seventh day of the dark half of Śrāvana of the year 1226.
This was the time of Hémc'andra Suri who was the pupil of Déva c'andra Süri, who had composed three crores of ( Verses) and who was popularly known by the titles of Kalia-kal-Sarvajna (a versatile genius, knowing everything in the days of ironage). He was born on the fifteenth day of the bright half of the month of Kārtika in 1145, he obtained Diksa in 1150, he became Ac'arya in 1166, and left this world in 1229.
Ajitdeva Suri succeeded Śree Munic'andra Suri's seat as the 41st Pattadhara In V.S 1204 the 'Khartara' sect started, in 1213
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org