Siddhasēna Divākara (Jain Prakrit: सिद्धसेन दिवाकर) was a Jain monk of the Śvetāmbara sect in the fifth century CE who wrote works on Jain philosophy and epistemology.[1][2][3] He was like the illuminator of the Jain order and therefore came to be known as Divākara, "Sun". He is credited with the authorship of many books, most of which are not available. Sanmatitarka ('The Logic of the True Doctrine') is the first major Jain work on logic written in Sanskrit.[4][5] Among the most popular of his works, the Kalyan Mandir Stotra is a Sanskrit hymn dedicated to the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha. It is one of the 9 holiest recitations (Nav Smaran) in the Śvetāmbara Murtipujak sect of Jainism.
Acharya Shri Siddhasena Divakara Suri Maharaj | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Born | 5th century CE |
| Died | 5th century CE |
| Religion | Jainism |
| Sect | Śvetāmbara |
| Notable work(s) | Nyāyāvatāra, Kalyanmandir, Vardhman Shakrastav |
| Religious career | |
| Initiation | by Acharya Vruddhavadisuri |
Life
editSiddhasena Divakara is said to have lived in fourth or fifth century CE and is said to have flourished in the Gupta Empire.[6][7][8] He was a Brahmin by birth and a scholar.[7] He was initiated by Acharya Vruddhavadisuri.[9] His name at birth was Kumudchandra.[10] He was a proud Brahmin. However, when he lost a debate to Acharya Vruddhavadisuri, he accepted initiation into the Jain sangha.[11] He came to be known as Acharya Siddhasensuri or Acharya Siddhasena Divakarasuri after he was given the position of an acharya. He is one of the most revered Acharyas of the Śvetāmbara sect.
According to the tradition, Siddhasena Divakarasuri once planned to translate all the Jaina works from prakrit to Sanskrit.[12] He was asked by his master to visit all the Jain temples as a punishment. He thus visited the Jain temples for twelve years.[13] He then came upon a Linga temple in Ujjain. He slept at the temple with his feet towards the Linga, which is a symbol of Shiva. King Vikramaditya had him beaten for the sin on request of the devotees. However, with miraculous powers, Siddhasena Divakara made that the King's wife receive the beating instead of him, looking at his miraculous powers he was then set free. King Vikramaditya requested Siddhasenasuri not to sleep in front of the Linga and should start worshipping him, Siddhasenasuri replied to the king's request stating that the Linga would not be able to handle his devotion and bhakti, thus he then started to praise the lord by residing his composition "The Kalyan Mandir Stotra" as he reached the 11th verse, the sky rumbled, the temple bells started ringing and the Linga opened thus emerging the idol of Avanti Parshwanath from within.[14][15] This idol is worshipped by the Śvetāmbara sect and it is one of the 108 most revered images of the 23rd Tirtankara Parshvanatha as believed by the Śvetāmbara Murtipujak sect. It is believed that the idol of Avanti Parshvanath was created and worshipped by Maha Kaal himself.[16][17]
He is said to have spent the rest of his life in the vicinity of Bharuch in Gujarat.[18]
Thought
editSiddhasena's main contribution in the Sanmatitarka is his analysis of the Jain theory of Anekantavada. [19] According to Jeffery Long, Siddhasena divides the seven classical Jain nayas (standpoints, viewpoints) into two categories: "those which affirm the substantiality of existence (dravyāstikanayas)[20] and those which affirm the impermanent, changing aspects of existence (paryāyāstikanayas)."[1] This view sees the best account of reality as one which includes permanence and impermanence, identity and difference in a complex set of contradictory relations. Siddhasena also argued that the number of possible nayas or viewpoints of reality is potentially limitless.[1] He then goes on to correlate each of the nayas with the positions of Indian philosophical schools, showing how each view is not only partial but also one sided.[20]
Works
editHe was the author of Sammati-tarka-prakarana and is said to have written the Nyāyāvatāra, Sanmati sutra and Kalyan Mandir stotra.[9][21]
He also authored the well-known Sanskrit scripture Samyaktva-Rahasya-Prakaranam. [22] Among his other works, Shikshopnishad,[23] Stavopnishad,[24] Vadopnishad,[25] Sammatyakhya-Prakaranam [26] are popular ones.
He is also credited with authoring the Vardhaman Shakrastav Stotra. This is a hymn recited during ritualistic bathing (Shakrastav Abhishek) of Tirthankara idols in the Śvetāmbara Murtipujak sect. [27]
He is also said to have written the Sakal Tirth Stotra, a hymn which describes and pays homage to all Jain pilgrimage sites. [28]
See also
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^ a b c Long 2009, p. 132.
- ^ Jaina, Hīrālāla (2004). Contributions of Jaina Religion to Indian Culture. Sharadaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre.
- ^ Isibhāsiyāiṃ suttāiṃ: R̥ṣibhaṣita sūtra (in Hindi). Prākr̥ta Bhāratī Akādemī. 1988.
- ^ Qvarnström, Olle; Jainism and Early Buddhism: Essays in Honor of Padmanabh S. Jaini, page 154.
- ^ Dundas 2002, p. 131.
- ^ Mehta, Balwant Sinha; Mehta, Jodh Sinha (1966). Chittorgarh: The Cradle of Chivalry & Culture. Rajasthan Itihas Parishad.
- ^ a b Orsini & Schofield 1981, p. 64.
- ^ Das, Dr Manas Kumar (9 August 2017). INDIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-387-04428-3.
- ^ a b Natubhai Shah 2004, p. 49.
- ^ Jain, Arun Kumar (2009). Faith & Philosophy of Jainism. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-723-2.
- ^ Barodia, U. D. (1909). History and Literature of Jainism. Jain Graduates' Association.
- ^ Orsini & Schofield 1981, pp. 64–65.
- ^ Orsini & Schofield 1981, p. 65.
- ^ Teerth Darshan. Shree Jain Prarthana Mandir Trust (Regd.). 2002.
- ^ Puratan. Department of Archaeology and Museums, Madhya Pradesh. 1989.
- ^ von Glasenapp 1999, pp. 126–127.
- ^ "Siddhasen Diwakarsuri - Jain Stories". jainknowledge.com. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ Gujarat. Gujarat Vishvakosh Trust. 2007.
- ^ Prakash 'Babloo', Ravi (10 September 2021). Comparative Religions and Philosophies. K.K. Publications.
- ^ a b Illustrated Shri Bhagavati Sutra (Vyakhya Prajnapti) (in Hindi). Padma Prakāśana. 2005.
- ^ Balcerowicz & Mejor 2004, p. 313.
- ^ JaineLibrary, Anish Visaria. "Search, Seek, and Discover Jain Literature". jainqq.org. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ JaineLibrary, Anish Visaria. "Search, Seek, and Discover Jain Literature". jainqq.org. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ JaineLibrary, Anish Visaria. "Search, Seek, and Discover Jain Literature". jainqq.org. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ JaineLibrary, Anish Visaria. "Search, Seek, and Discover Jain Literature". jainqq.org. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ JaineLibrary, Anish Visaria. "Search, Seek, and Discover Jain Literature". jainqq.org. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ JaineLibrary, Anish Visaria. "Search, Seek, and Discover Jain Literature". jainqq.org. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ Jain, Arun Kumar (2009). Faith & Philosophy of Jainism. Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-723-2.
Sources
edit- Balcerowicz, Piotr; Mejor, Marek, eds. (2004) [2002], Essays in Indian Philosophy, Religion and Literature (First Indian ed.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 9788120819788
- Dundas, Paul (2002) [1992], The Jains (Second ed.), London and New York: Routledge, ISBN 0-415-26605-X
- Long, Jeffery D. (2009), Jainism: An Introduction, I.B. Tauris, ISBN 978-1-84511-625-5
- Orsini, Francesca; Schofield, Katherine Butler, eds. (1981), Tellings and Texts: Music, Literature and Performance in North India, Open Book Publishers, ISBN 978-1-78374-105-2
- Shri Abhidhan Rajendra Kosh Vol 5, written by Acharya Rajendrasuri (1827–1906)
- Shah, Natubhai (2004) [First published in 1998], Jainism: The World of Conquerors, vol. I, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-1938-1
- von Glasenapp, Helmuth (1999), Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation [Der Jainismus: Eine Indische Erlosungsreligion], Shridhar B. Shrotri (trans.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-1376-6
Further reading
edit- Siddhasena Divākara. Dvātriṃśikā, in A. N. Upadhye (1971).