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Introduction
Siddhasena-sūri, the Ācārya of the Modha Gaccha lived at the city of Patalā in Gurjaradeśa, ruled over by Jitaśatru. Once he went on a pilgrimage to the Muhivira temple at Modherā. There a six years old boy named Surapāla met him. He was the son of Bappa and Bhatti living at the village of Dumbāudhi in the Pañcāla country. Sūrapāla had left his home without his parents' permission. Siddhasena welcomed him to stay with him. The boy being extraordinarily talented mastered all the Šāstras the Ācārya taught him. The latter initiated him in the Jain order in 807 V.S. For this the permission of the boy's parents was obtained on the condition that he should be renamed Bappabhatti after them. Accordingly eventhough he was given the designation of Bhadrakirti, he became famous as Bappabhatti. The Ācārya bestowed on him the Sarasvata Mantra, which had the power to make Godess Sarasvati appear in person.
Once Bappabhatti saw a stranger trying to read in a temple the donor's Prašasti inscribed there. He brought the youngman to the Ācārya. The stranger introduced himself as Āma, son of Yašovarman, who was ruling at Kānyakubja. He had left his home having been offended by his father's admonition. The Ācārya taught him all the Kalās. Bappabhatti and Ama became close friends. Ama promised to hand over his kingdom to Bappabhatti when he became the king. Shortly he was called back to Kānyakubja, because the king was on the death-bed. He was installed on the throne and the king passed away shortly. He invited Bappabhatti to Kānyakubja and offered him the kingship. The latter declined the offer. At Ama's request Siddhisena-sūri cənferred on Bappabhatti the status of a Sūri, so that h cia seat on a Sirnhāsana without violating maastic rulez. Bippibatti settled at Kinyakubja. From the incom; from the numerous villa ;es gifted to him by the and which he made over to th: Jain Sangha, one lofty temple of Mahāvira was built in Kānyakubja .and another was built at Gopagiri. Numerous incidents of samas 1 å-pürti or pāda-pūrti accom. plished by Bappabhatti are narrated, showing his uncanny literary powers, as a Siddha-Sārasvata. Once due to composing some erotic
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