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18
ATMABODHA (ALOCANA) OF PADMANANDI (With Introduction and Translation)
Introduction
In the line of Jaina writers, one and the same name is borne by many authors belonging to different periods of time. There have been many Jaina Saints and writers bearing the name Padmanandi and we have been able to list about eighteen Padmanandis from different sources. Padmanandi is another name of Kunda Kundācārya.1 The author of the Prakṛtavṛtti on Pañca-sangraha is Padmanandi who is later than Akalanka. Padmanandis also called Siddhanti Cakreśvara, who flourished in Saka 997, is mentioned in Jain inscriptions. The author of the Jambudvipapannatti (a Prakṛt-Text) who flourished in circa end of the tenth or beginning of the 11th century A.D. is Padmanandi. The author of Dhamma Rasayana was padmanandi,5 There is another Padmanandi who belongs to Senagana and flourished in circa 9th century A.D. Again, Aviddhakarana Padmanandi-Siddhantika is referred to in an inscription of A.D. 1163. A disciple of Naykirti was Padmanandi, whose name is mentioned in some inscriptions dated A.D. 1181, 1195 and whose name is mentioned 1206.8 Padmanandi was pupil of Ramanandi9 in an inscription of the middle of the 12th century A.U. Padmanandi Pandita was one of the pupils of Adhyatma Subhacandra who flourished in the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century A.D.
1. Epigraphica Carnațika-Vol. II. p-64, 66 and Indian Antiquary-XXIII, p. 126. 2. Pañca Sangraha-Introduction. Pub: Bharatiya Jnana Pith, Banares, 1960.
3. Jaina Šilalekha Sangraha-Fart II Pub: Manikacandra Digambara Jaina Granthamala, Bombay, p. 269-70.
4. Jambudvipapanpatti-ed: H. L. Jaina and A. N. Upadhye, Sholapur. 1959. See Introduction, pp 13 F.
5. Siddbänta Särädi Sangraha-Manikcandra Digambara Jaina Granthamala. Bombay, 1922, p. 192 F,
6. Bhattaraka Sampradaya-ed; V. P. Johrapurkar, Pub: ed, G. H. Doshi. Jaina Sanskriti Samrakṣaka Sangha Sholopur 1959. p. 3.
7. Epigraphica Carnarika II, SB. No. 64.
8. Ibid, II, No. 327, 333 and 335.
9. Jainism in South Iadia-P. B. Desai, Sholapur, 1957, 280 F. 10. Epigraphica Carnatika-Introduction, p. 86 and SB No. 65.
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