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 183 the learned [Nemicandra (c. 1170) Nemināthapurāṇam, 1-13]. ii. Pārsvapandita (1205) has mentioned TS and its author as Umāsvāti (and not as GP) [Pārsvanātha purāņam, 1-13] and Pārsvapandita is the first writer to mention that US has written an auto-commentary to his TS – 'Umāsvāti, a milky ocean of clemency has removed the dirt of the fake (religions) by Tattvārthavrtti [ibid, 1-18]. iii. Salva (1485) has mentioned boththe aliases of US and GP, a traividya, an ācārya praised by the monks, as one who is as bold as the mount Meru (Salva-bhārata olim Neminātha-carite, 1-13 and 15]. The rest of the praśastis of US are the usual benedictory verses.
Conclusion: 8.1. Thus the influence of US can unmistakably be seen on
the Jina authors of Karnataka who had considered US as the author of TS (and an auto-commentary) and as a celebrated ācārya; TS was a widely read āgama work, they were aware of the commentaries also. Jain authors of Kannada literature have held US with his alias GP in highest regard at par with KKA, SB Svāmi, PP, Kaviparameshi, Jaāsimhanandi and other eminent ācāryas; though some authors have confused KKA & US (GP) as one and the same, the mix up in identification and properly fixing the date, does not alter the unilateral respect that US enjoys. In brief, for the Kannada authors US is nothing short of a śrutakevalin (EC.VIII (BLR) Nr. 46. 1526]; tattvārthasūtra Karttāram-Umāsvāti munīšvaram śrutakevali-desīyam vande'ham guna- mandiram/ The authors, their works and the insciptions which allude the name of Umāsvāti, his aliases and his work are tabulated below according to their chronological order:
