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Publisher's note
III
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After Tirthamkara Mahāvīra and his chief disciple Ganadhara Gautama, the name of Acarya Kundakunda is recited just before initiating any auspicious work by Digamber Jains. This is evident from the following popular verse which is recited:
Mamgalam Bhagavana Vīro mamgalam Gautamo Gaṇī, Mamgalam Kundakundadyo Jain dharmostu mamgalam.
The scriptures written by Acarya Kundakunda before two millennia constitute great treasure of knowledge and inspiration for his disciples. The list of scriptures written by Acarya Kundakunda includes the following:
1. Samayasāra,
5. Rayaṇasāra
2. Pravacanasāra
6. Bārasāṇupekkhā
3. Pamcastikāya
7. 84-Pahuḍa including Aṣtapahuḍa
4. Niyamasara
8. Bhakti Samgraha
As regards the authorship of Mulācāra and Tirukkulara there is a lack of unanimity among the experts, but some scholars believe that Acarya Kundakunda authored Mulācāra and Tirukkulara also.
Among all the scriptures written by Acarya Kundakunda, Samayasara is regarded as the best. Further, among all the available scriptures written by all the saints, Samayasara is respected as the best scripture, in the spiritual area dealing with soul science, by the Jains. Samayasara was written by Acarya Kundakunda in Śaurseni Prākṛta language. Its two commentaries in Sanskṛta- Acarya Jayasena's Tātparyavṛtti and Acarya Amṛtacandra's AtmaKhyati - have also been popular and have been source of inspiration to the Hindi scholars for writing the commentaries in Hindi. Pt. Jayachandji wrote the commentary in Dhundhari language (early version of the modern Hindi). Pt. Manoharlalji (from Padhan-Mainpuri), Pt. Pannalalji Sahityacharya (from Sagar), and Pt. Motichandji Kothari (from Falatan) also translated Samayasara in Hindi. The translations and commentaries written by these and other scholars and saints provide many valuable dimensions of soul science for contemplation and meditation for the persons knowing Indian languages.
