Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 3

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

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VAISHALI RESEARCH BULLETIN NO.3
all probability a Kannadinga and probably belonged originally to these very parts For a considerable time he resided in Shravanabelagola where he taught, preached and wrote his works. He was an erudite scholar and commanded great influence and respect.
Patron
His chief patron was the great Chamunaraya, a highly celebrated name in the Jain annals of south India. He belonged to a noble Brahma-Kshatriya family and was the general-in-chief and prime minister of the kingdom of the Western Gangas during the reigns at least of Marasimha II (961 974 A. D.) and Rachamall IV (975-984 A.D.). He might have entered the service of this kingdom in the reign of Marasimha's predecessor Maruladeva (953-961 A.D.), and may have continued for sometime in the reign of Rachamalla's successor, Rakkas Ganga. But, almost all of his numerous military exploits, heroic deeds and political, social and moral achievements, which won him dozens of befitting titles and honours, and about which contemporary and later records, literary and epigraphical, are so eloquent, are confined chiefly to the first mentioned two reigns, i.e. the period 961-984 A.D. The Raya was a highly educated and accomplished person, and a good author. His Chamundaraya-Purana, completed in 973 A D., is a popular gem of Kannada literature. He is also believed to have written a Kannada commentary, known as the 'Vira-martandi' after one of his many honorofic titles, 'Vira-Martanda' ( sun of valour ), on the Gommatasara, simultaneously with its compilation. Another work of this nobleman is the Charitrasara, written in Sanskrit. He was a man of upright chara. cter and of a very pious, generous and charitable disposition, and undou. btedly a very great builder. Besides the 57 ft. high 'wonder', that the superb Bahubali colossus universally admitted is, the Raya built the beautiful temple which came to be known as the Chamudarayabasati on the Chandragiri, enshrining the one cubit high image, made of blue saphire (indranila-mani) of Lord Neminatha, his favourite deity, and the Kuge-Brahmadeva-stambha (pillar). The building and restoration of many other temples and religious monuments, as well as numerous acts of piety are attributed to this great man. He held Nemichandra as a guru and studied Siddhanta with him. As a matter of fact, it is in order to satisfy the Raya's querries that the guru avowedly compiled at his instance and for his benefit the famous Gommatasara.
Name
The popular name of this work is Gommatasara, meaning a compilation of the essence of the doctrine, dedicated to somebody of the name of Gommata. But, it is the name given to the work by its commen