आचार्य देवनन्दि पूज्यपाद और उनका समय

Summary

Acharya Devanandi Pujyapad, most renowned by the name Pujyapad, is considered one of the greatest Jain acharyas after Acharya Samantabhadra. He composed high-quality Sanskrit texts in both prose and verse, and was the chief acharya of the Desiyagana branch of the Mulasangha within the Kundakundanvaya tradition. According to pattavalis, he was the tenth guru, succeeding Yashonandi and succeeded by Jayanandi. Born in Karnataka to a Brahmin family, his father was Madhava Bhatta and mother Shridevi. Pujyapad was perhaps the first Jain guru to author valuable texts on secular subjects. His works include the Jainendra Vyakarana, a noted grammar text, and he is credited with composing a commentary on Panini's sutras called Shabdavatara-vyasa and a work on prosody, though both are now lost. He may have authored a medical text called Kalyanakaraka and is considered the writer of Jainabhisheka. His known and available works include the Sarvarthasiddhi, the earliest available and authoritative commentary on Umaswami's Tattvarthadhigama Sutra; Dashabhaktyadisamgraha, which preserves valuable traditions, especially about Mahavira's life; Samadhitantra; Ishtopadesha; and Shantyashtaka. These reveal him as not only a great scholar and writer but also a great yogi, mystic, and poet. His wisdom earned him the respect of disciples, followers, rulers, and the general public. In Talakad, Karnataka, the Western Ganga emperor Avinita Kongini entrusted him with the education of his son, Prince Durvinita, who maintained their guru-shishya relationship even after becoming emperor. Pujyapad is said to have established a major educational center near Talakad. Scholars have debated his exact dates. While pattavalis place him in