आचार्य समन्तभद्र और उनकी कृति आप्तमीमांसा/ देवागम स्तोत्र

Summary

Acharya Samantabhadra, believed to have lived during the second or third century Vikram, was born into a Kshatriya family. His father was the king of Uragpur, located within the Phanimandala region, as indicated by a colophon in an ancient palm-leaf manuscript of his work *Aptamimamsa* preserved at Shravanabelagola. He authored several texts, including *Brihatsvayambhu Stotra*, *Stutividya*, *Aptamimamsa* (also known as *Devagama Stotra*), *Yuktyanushasana*, *Ratnakaranda Shravakachara*, *Jivasiddhi*, *Pramana Padartha*, and others. The *Aptamimamsa* examines who can be considered an *apta* (an authoritative and truthful person). It addresses the problem of conflicting claims among different Indian philosophical schools, each asserting their own *apta*. The work is divided into ten chapters and uses reasoning to establish that only the *Arhat* (Jina) possesses omniscience and detachment, as their words are consistent with logic and scripture. It critiques various one-sided viewpoints (*ekantavada*) and elaborates on the nature of *syadvada* (the doctrine of conditional predication), *naya* (standpoints), and the multifaceted nature of reality. The text is considered a foundational work of Jain logic. Acharya Akalankadeva wrote the *Ashtashati* commentary on it, and Acharya Vidyananda wrote the *Ashtasahasri*. Later scholars like Upadhyaya Yashovijaya also wrote commentaries. Samantabhadra’s contributions include defining *pramana* (valid cognition), classifying its types, describing the nature of *naya* and *hetu* (reason), and establishing the omniscient being through inference. He is regarded as a pioneer of Jain logic, and