Medieval Jainism

SR No.: 011082
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhasker Anand Saletore
Publisher: Karnataka Publishing House
Total Pages: 448
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 27 MB

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CRITICAL TIMES records of the south, and especially in the reign of a king called Varaguņa Vikramāditya. These two preceptors are mentioned in other records as well.2
But neither of them can be identified with the meagre data before us. A Kanakasenamuni, the guru of Baladevamuni, is mentioned in a record assigned to circa A.D. 650. In what way he was connected with the Tamil land, cannot be determined. As regards Gunasena, we have two Jaina preceptors of that name. There was Gunasena-guruvar, who was the disciple of Moniguruvar of Agaļi, and who died in about A.D. 700.4 A more conspicuous Gunasena was the disciple of Puşpasena. This guru hailed from Mulļūru in Coorg, and, as we have already seen, died in A.D. 1064.5
Likewise unidentifiable is the name of Ēlācārya, who is supposed by some to have been the author of the Tamil classic Kural. It is related in Jaina tradition that Elācārya after composing this work, gave it to his disciple Tiruva!ļuvar, who introduced it to the Sangham at Madura. This has to be given up for the following reasons--In the first place, the identity of Elācārya himself is by no means settled. There are at least three Jaina gurus of that name. Jaina tradition relates that ēlācārya was another name of Kondakundācārya.? But, as Prof. Upadhye has pointed out, there is no basis for asserting that Kondakundācārya was ever called
1. 330 of 1908 ; Rangacharya, op. cit., II, p. 995 ; III, p. 1696. 2. Rangacharya, ibid., II, p. 1003. 3. E. C., II. Intr. p. 72; 2, p. 2. 1. Ibid., II, 8, p. 3. 5. Ibid., I. Cg. 34, 35, 37, 38, 41, pp. 65-67 6. Upadhye, Pravancanasāra, pp. xx-xxi. 7. 1. A., XII. p. 20; Rice, My. & Coorg, p. 31. n (1).