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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176 Studies in Umāsvāti 4.2. Among the several references to TS and its author, the
statement of Hombuja inscription stands unique for the following salient features: i. The fact that US was the author of TS was known to
the southern Nigrantha church. ii. Other aliases of GP and Umāsvāmi are not mentioned. iii. US was chief of the monks-munīśvaram. iv. He was considered as Śrutakevalin; this term seems
to be analogous with the adjective aśesa-padārthavedi used elswhere in SB inscription, both suggesting
the authorship of TS. v. He belonged o the desīya cohort of friars, a filiate
branch of the original congregation (Müla-sangha)
vi. He was an abode of virtues. 4.3. The significance of this inscription is enhanced by the
fact that it was authored by the friar Vardhamāna muni, a disciple of Devendra Kirti, head of the monks of Digambara sect. The statement made here is similar to that of SB inscription [EC. II (R) 360 (354). Ad 1398]
but differs in placing KK as a successor of US. 4.4. Some of the Sanskrit and Kannada inscriptions of
Karnataka trace the genealogy of Jain ācāryas either from Ganadharas, the first mendicant disciples of Mahāvīra, or from Śrutakevalin Bhadrabāhu, the apostle who possessed the traditional knowledge of Jaina scriptures. One of such inscriptions states that in the line of the illustrious pontiffs, after Bhadrabāhu, arose Kondakunda ācārva who had the other names of Padmānandi, Umāsvāti and Gpdh-rapinchācārya, who had the disciple Balakapincha followed by SB and PP [E C>11(r) 71 (64) AD 1163, p. 27]; it can also be iterpreted that US belonged to the spiritual lineage (anvaya) of KKA [Dhaky : 51] and this seems to be more appropriate.
