Siddhi Vinischay Tika Part 01

Author(s): Anantviryacharya
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Page 48

2. THE AUTHORS: AKALANKA
He tried to find out the true history of these brothers. In his examination with all types of devices, at last they were found to be Jainas. (1) The Tradition of Similar Legends :
(1) The Press copy prepared by Muni Punyavijayaji, of Prākrta Kathāvali of Bhadreśvarasüri (12th C. A.D.1) has a legend about Haribhadra as follows-Haribhadra took to renunciation at the instance of Jinadattācārya ; he had two disciples, namely, Jinabhadra and Virabhadra. Buddhism was at the height of its glory in Chittor at that time ; naturally Buddhists were the rivals of Haribhadra. The climax of this communal jealousy resulted in the murder of both the disciples of Haribhadra. Haribhadra took it seriously and decided to observe fast unto death; but it was averted due to the intervention of influential personalities. Philosopher as he was, he devoted his life in writing down works on Jaina philosophy. Haribhadra was known also by his nick-name Bhavaviraha süri since he used to bless his devotees with Bhavaviraha.
(2) The Prabhāvakacarita (1277.A.D.) of Candraprabha Sūri gives the account of two disciples of Haribhadra : Hainsa and Paramahamsa ; both the brothers joined a Buddha math at Sugatapura for their education. They wrote down the counter attack on Buddhist criticism of Jaina philosophy pointing out the inconsistencies in Buddhism. The teacher chanced to look into them; naturally he became suspicious of the presence of nonBuddhist disciples at his math. In order to find out he ordered his students to cross the painting of Jinadeva; both the brothers passed over the painting after drawing a line with the chalk representing the sacred thread on the chest of the Jina ; similar experiments-e.g. throwing the bronz vessels were undertaken to find out the non-Buddhist students ; finally, they were arrested when it was clearly revealed that they were Jainas. They tried to escape but were followed by the guards ; Hamsa asked his younger brother to run away and to surrender to the king named Sūrapāla and died himself in fighting with the guards. The king Sūrapāla refused to give Paramahamsa to the guards; on the other hand he summoned the Buddhist scholars for a debate in which Paramahamsa secured a grand victory over his opponents. Then he broke the pot in which the Goddess Tārā was installed to help the Buddhists. Even then he was not free from danger; he ran away; he approached a washer-man and bade him to run away as the army was approaching. The washer-man ran away and Paramahamsa took his place. When the soldiers came and asked about Paramahsṁsa, he pointed at the direction in which the washer-man was running. Thus he saved himself
.1 Vide Hindi Intro. p. 13. f. n. No. 1.