કહાવલી-કર્તા ભદ્રેશ્વરસૂરિના સમય વિશે
By Madhusudan Dhanki
Summary
This historical essay investigates when the Jain monk Bhadrasuri lived and when he composed the poetic work **Kalapi**. Scholars have dated him anywhere from the eleventh to the fourteenth century, so Madhusudan Gandhi surveys Jain chronicles, monastic genealogies and inscriptions to refine the chronology. He summarises previous theories and introduces evidence from colophons and manuscript notes. Gandhi analyses genealogical charts of the Candrasuri lineage and correlates the succession of teachers and disciples with dated events to narrow the timeframe for Bhadrasuri. He also compares references in commentaries that mention rulers or astronomical events and evaluates which sources are reliable. Linguistic analysis of **Kalapi** suggests that its archaic vocabulary and metre align with twelfth‑century Jain literature. Synthesising genealogical, textual and linguistic evidence, Gandhi argues that Bhadrasuri most likely lived between V.S. 1150–1200 (c. 1093–1143 CE). The article acknowledges uncertainties but contends that this period fits the majority of data. Gandhi discusses Bhadrasuri’s philosophical contributions and influence on later authors, emphasising that accurately dating his life clarifies the chronology of Jain literary history. The essay concludes with a detailed bibliography of sources consulted.
Conclusion
The study concludes that the weight of genealogical and textual evidence places Bhadrasuri in the twelfth century. Establishing this timeframe helps situate his work **Kalapi** in the broader development of Jain literature and philosophy. Gandhi emphasises the importance of critically evaluating sources and suggests that future discoveries of inscriptions or manuscripts may further refine the chronology.