Book Title: Studies In Umasvati And His Tattvartha Sutra
Author(s): G C Tripathi, Ashokkumar Singh
Publisher: Bhogilal Laherchand Institute of Indology
________________
Apropos Umāsvāti in Kannada Literature 175 3.3.2. Those who have identified KKA with GP also are not uniform in proposing a proper date. One of the inscriptions has placed GP after SB Svami and Akalankadeva [EC. VII (R) NG. 64 (IV Ng 76). 1145. p. 47 lines 41-4].
4.1.
The importance of an epigraphical reference from Hombuja needs no exaggeration, in the context of this discussion. Though a later charter of post medieval period (ED. VIII (old) Nagara 46. AD 1526. Hombuja) the epigraphist seems to possess a fair knowledge of the chronology of the Nirgrantha monks. What is more important, is that the inscription is free from the usual confusion. The fairly long charter is a prasasti of the illustrious Vādi-Vidyananda Svāmi [1480-1536], a towering intellect, celebrated author, who was honured in the court of Kṛṣṇadevaraya of Vijayanagara, and many more kings of minor prinicipalities [Aaletore: 1938: 3778]. After introducing him, the charter starts recording the usual list of the continuum of the Jaina ascetics with the invocatory verse of Akalanka-ācārya; 'śrimat-puramagambhira-syādvāda' from his Pramāṇa-sangraha and obeisance to Vardhamāna - Jina. Immediately after the names of Yasobhadra and Bhadrabahu, the caturdaśapūrvadhāris and Viśākhācārya, the prominent daśa pūrvadhara, the name of Umāsvāti and his work TS is mentioned. I quote only the two relevant lines:
Tattvärthasūtra-kartāram Umāsvāti-muniśvaram Śrutakevali-desiyam vande aham guṇa-mandiram//
'I salute the chief of monks, Umāsvāti, who authored the TS, who is a śrutakevali, the adept, who belongs to the desiya cohort of friars and who is an abode of virtues'. After this salutation to US the name of KKA follows.
