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चरितं विरचय्य सम्मतीयं सदलंकारविचित्रवृत्तबन्धम् ।
स पुराणमिदं व्यधत्त शान्तेरसग: साधुजनप्रमोहशान्त्ये ||७||
There was a famous Śravaka Fatumati by name. He always paid respects to monks by touching his head to the ground which was rendered pure by the dust from the feet of the monks. He was an embodiment of mild passions. He was endowed with pure Right Faith. He was a man of intelligence. His body was lean; and he rendered it all the more lean by observing fasts on Parva days. He earned great dignity thereby. And by his gift of food, etc., he acquired great merit and all-bright (lit., white like kunda flower) fame. His wife was Vaireti, for whom there could be no parallel in the society. With the same respect she always showed great devotion to the fourfold congregation of monks. She was religious purity incarnate(samyaktva, right faith). Both of them were so well-known, and Asaga was their son. He was a pupil of Acarya Naganandi who was prominent among the wise or learned, whose spotless fame was spreading everywhere, and who was well versed in sabda (grammar) and samaya (scripture). Asaga had a friend Jinäpa (by name) who was devoted to Jinadharma and liked by the pious. Jinäpa, though known for his bravery, was afraid of the next world; and though he was highborn, he was free from prejudice or partiality (there is flera here). Seeing that Jinapa (of meritorious intention) had faith in and liking for the exposition of Purana and out of great attachment for him (some have read guror nibandhe), Asaga composed this poem, though quite aware of the limitations of his poetic abilities. After having composed the Sanmaticarita, which is rich in poetic embellishments and variety of metrical patterns, Asaga composed this Santipurana for diluting the worldly attachment of pious people.
Asaga's relation with the three Acaryas can be clearly indicated: i) Asaga was a lisya of Naganandi, who is labdasamayārṇava-paraga. Possibly he had studied under him and owed pious allegiance to him. ii) Äryanandi-guru encouraged Asaga to compose the VC or Sanmati-carita. iii) Asaga completed his VP at the feet of, or while staying with, or even under the guidance of Bhavakirti. His reference to all the three can be easily understood and accounted for.
This is all that Asaga has said about himself and his works. It is necessary to see what other poets have said about him, before some of his details are critically scrutinised.
Dhavala, the author of the Harivamsapuräna in Apabhramsa, refers to Asaga and his Virajinendra-carita in this way.
1. Years back there appeared a note on these Prasastis, possibly written by the late Pt. Jugalkishoraji. Jaina Hitaishi, XV. pp. 336 f. It is necessary that some more Mss. will have to be consulted to understand the presence of these Prasastis.
2. Allahabad University Journal Vol. I, p. 167; also my paper, Asaga, his Works and Date, in the Karnataka Historical Quarterly, Vol. II. i., Dharwar.
