Book Title: Studies In Umasvati And His Tattvartha Sutra
Author(s): G C Tripathi, Ashokkumar Singh
Publisher: Bhogilal Laherchand Institute of Indology
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Apropos Umāsvāti in Kannada Literature 173 a result, Jain writers of Kannada language have over a thousand years revolved round the pivot of GP and have
complimented him with various encomiums. 2.3.5. But in course of time Kannada authors lost track of both
US and TS and landed in a mess which was their own creation. In the process US, TS, KKA, GP - all got mixed up creating a wrong impression that KKA and US are one and the same with the nomen GP being another alias, who authored TS. It is also believed that GP was the disciple of US and in turn Balaka pi(n)cchcārya, a disciple of GP, authored a work called Sūktiratna, considered as lovely ornament of the lady of final liberation (muktyangana), but nothing is known about
this work. Inscriptional Evidence 3.1. An exact date and lineage (anvaya) of KKA continues to
be a dilemma even to this day. Entering into the controversy of the proper place, date, etc., is like opening the pandora box. I am not eager either to delve deep into the unfathomable depth and get lost or discuss it in a parochial spirit. I confine to deal briefly only the relevant points. Among the aliases of KKA, caturangula carana has fascinated some Kannada authors like Vsttavilāsa (Dharmaparīkse, i-ii) and Doddaiah (Candraprabhacarite, 1-17). A monk who can fly up in the air by means of supernatural (legendary) powers is called janghā-carana. But the Jaina ascetics were forbidden to make use of supernatural powers or to indulge in such practices, even when they had mastered it [Sūtrakṛtānga, 2, 2, 27; Uttarādhyayana, 8.13 and 15, 7–8]. KKA and PP Devanandi are attributed with this occult power; it has been said that they went from Karnataka to Pūrva-Videha-kşetra by employing this supernatural occult power and had the darśana of Simandhara Svāmi. Some Kannada authors
