Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 3

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 64

FACTS ABOUT GOMMATASARA
varti. Besides the two parts, Jiva Kand and Karma Kand of this work, he has written the Labdhisara dealing with the five spiritual attainments leading to liberation, the Kshapanasara with the annihilation of Kashayas ( passions and emotions ), and the Trilokasara with cosmology and a description of the physical universe. His works are all written in Prakrit verse. A treatise named Karma-prakriti is also ascri. bed to him, which appears to be only a briel extraction from the Karma Kanda. It is also believed by many, including S. C Ghoshal and J. L. Jaini, that he was the author of the Brihad-Dravya Sangrah also, but it has been proved to be a mistake, the author of this work seems to have been a different and later Nemichandra ( PJVS, Introd , pp.92-94 ).
Namichandra, the author of the Gommatasara, claims to have earned the title "Siddhanta-chakravarti' (paramount sovereign of the Doctrine ) for his having mastered the 'six divisions of the Doctrine', that is, the Shata-khandagama-Siddhanta together with its Dhavala commentary, in the same way as a temporal monarch becomes a Chakravarti emperor after having subdued the six divisions of Bharatakshetra (K. K., 397). There may have been some earlier Acharyas to whom this title might have been sometimes applied, but our Nemichandra is the first who is known to have specifically adopted the title "Siddhantachakravarti'; his example was followed by several later gurus.
Nemichandra belonged to the Desiyagana-Pustakagaccha, a branch of the Nandi-sangha of the Mulasangha-Kunda-kundanvaya. Among his preceptors, teachers and elder contemporary saints, Nemichandra mentions several names: Indranandi, who appears to be identical with the author of Jwalamalini-Kalpa written in 939 A.D. (PJVS Intr., p. 71; JSI, p. 271 ), and had for his disciples Kanakanandi, the author of Satta. vasthana( Vistara-sattatribhangi ) bulk of which has been incorporated in the Karma Kand, and Nemichandra himself. Another guru was Abhayanandi, the disciple of Vibudha Gunanandi and the preceptor of Viranandi, the author of Chandraprabha-charitra and Nemichandra hiroself. Yet another guru was Ajitasena, the disciple of Aryasena of the Senagana, who was also the family guru of Chamundaraya and of the latter's master, the Ganga King Marasimha II who died in 974 A.D. by the rite of Sallekhana in the presence of this guru (JSS. I, no. 38/59; E.C,K, no. 84 ). It was this Ajitasena who inspired Chamundaraya to erect the world famous Bahubali colossus at the Vidhyagiri of Shravana-belagola ( district Hasan in the State of Karnataka or Mysore ), and presided at its consecration ceremony, most probably assisted by Nemichandra himself. Thereafter, the latter was appointed as the chief priest. pontiff and caretaker of this holy place, for which the Raya bestowed upon him a handsome grant of land and money. Nemichandra was in