Siddhasen Diwakar
Encyclopedia
Siddhasen Diwakar (आचार्य सिद्दसैन दिवाकर) was a highly intelligent Jain acharya
of his time. Siddhasen could study the scriptures and realize their truth in a short time. In due course he became the best known Jain scholar of the time. He was like the illuminating lamp of the Jain order and therefore came to be known as Siddhasen Diwakar. He is credited with the authorship of many books but most of them unfortunately are not available. Sanmatitarka is his best book on logic and is widely read even at present. The well known Kalyanmandir Stotra was also composed by him.
. Devarshi's son, Kumud (this was the birth name of Siddhasen Diwakar) was very handsome, smart and highly intelligent and so Devarshi sent him to the best monastery
school of the time. There Kumud quickly mastered all the arts and sciences. Devarshi was very proud of his son. It was customary in those days to hold contests to determine who was more knowledgeable. Devarshi believed that Kumud would defeat anyone in such contests and Kumud did not believe his expectations. In a short amount of time, Kumud defeated everyone in the court of King Vikramaditya
. From there he went to other prominent courts of India and was victorious every time. However these successive triumphs generated a sense of vanity in his mind and he started believing that there was no one was more learned than himself.
He announced for an open contest with any one who claimed superior knowledge and also vowed that if any one could beat him, he would instantly become the winner s disciple. No one however came forward to accept his challenge. This made him even more egotistical. His vanity now knew no bounds. He sewed the emblems of a lamp, a net, a fork, a ladder and a spade onto his clothes and when any one inquired about the purpose of such amazing emblems, he would say that they were meant for his rivals. If any of his opponents, out of fear of defeat, escaped in the dark, he would locate him with his lamp, if one escaped in water, he would trap him with the net, if one escaped in fire, he would get him out with the fork, if one escaped in the sky, he would bring him back with his ladder and if one escaped in the nether world, he would dig him out with the spade. At that time, Jain Acharya
Vriddhivadi was the head of the Jain religious order. He was very learned but because he was a Jain saint he would not come out to challenge Kumud. Someone told Kumud that his universal conquest would remain incomplete until he vanquished the Jain Acharya
.
Acharya Vriddhivadi was then camping at Mandu
(Madhya Pradesh
, India
), a little away from Ujjayini (Ujjain
). Kumud rode out to meet him, however, Jain monks do not stay at any one place very long. Accordingly the Acharya
happened to move towards the next camp that very morning. As Kumud arrived in Mandu
, he came to know that the Acharya had left. He felt that the Acharya was scared of him and had escaped knowing about his arrival. He sped towards the place where the Acharya was headed and intercepted him near the river Kshipra.
He informed the Acharya
that he was Kumudchandra, the most learned man of India and since the latter claimed to be very learned, he had come to have a contest. The Jain Acharya was rather indifferent but Kumud insisted upon the contest. Acharya
then suggested to have the contest in the nearby court but Kumud was rather impatient and insisted upon the contest right there with the ranchers of the Kshipra as their judges. Acharya had heard about Kumud and was aware of his reputation as a well known scholar. He saw that the knowledge of Kumud was obscured by the vanity, however he also visualized the immense contribution that Kumud could make to the religious order, if he accepted the Jain faith. Acharya thereupon agreed and asked Kumud to first make his presentation. Kumud seized that opportunity and started exposing the weakness of different schools of thought including Jainism
. The ranchers had no idea what he was talking about. Then came the turn of the Jain Acharya
. He knew the real caliber of the ranchers and asked them to form a circle and recite a song. Then with his melodious voice he started singing a song with the following lines:
"Nonviolence is the path of peace; That ultimately leads to bliss."
The ranchers liked the song and merrily recited the same in chorus. Simultaneously they played flute in tune. At the end of the song, Acharya said that he did not want to say anything else. Kumud was sure that he had made his exposition very well and asked the ranchers about the outcome. Ranchers unanimously declared Acharya to be the winner. Kumud immediately realized his folly. His vanity disappeared and he fell at the feet of the Jain Acharya begging him to accept him as the pupil.
Acharya however did not intend to take advantage of that unfair contest. He therefore declined the offer and asked Kumud to a rematch at a nearby court. Kumud replied that the "Acharya was his true preceptor because he made him realize that the real essence of knowledge lay in equanimity of mind and not in vanity with which his own knowledge had been clouded." At the insistence of the Acharya
he however agreed to have one more contest in the nearby court where Acharya decisively defeated him. So Kumud became his pupil and was renamed Siddhasen that is known as Siddhasen Diwakar.
. He himself wrote collected and edited certain important Jain works. He complied the famous Kalyanmandir Stotra. It is a monumental work in Sanskrit poetry. Sanmatitarka is his best book on logic and is widely read even at present. He wrote well known Sakal tirth stotra with the details of all Jain Tirtha
of that time. This work itself places Siddhasen Diwakar on a high pedestal of Jain scholars and pioneers of religious Acharya's of the fifth century.
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
of his time. Siddhasen could study the scriptures and realize their truth in a short time. In due course he became the best known Jain scholar of the time. He was like the illuminating lamp of the Jain order and therefore came to be known as Siddhasen Diwakar. He is credited with the authorship of many books but most of them unfortunately are not available. Sanmatitarka is his best book on logic and is widely read even at present. The well known Kalyanmandir Stotra was also composed by him.
Life
Approximate 2000 years ago there lived a preceptor (sicsic) named Devarshi in the court of King VikramadityaVikramaditya
Vikramaditya was a legendary emperor of Ujjain, India, famed for his wisdom, valour and magnanimity. The title "Vikramaditya" was later assumed by many other kings in Indian history, notably the Gupta King Chandragupta II and Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya .The name King Vikramaditya is a...
. Devarshi's son, Kumud (this was the birth name of Siddhasen Diwakar) was very handsome, smart and highly intelligent and so Devarshi sent him to the best monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
school of the time. There Kumud quickly mastered all the arts and sciences. Devarshi was very proud of his son. It was customary in those days to hold contests to determine who was more knowledgeable. Devarshi believed that Kumud would defeat anyone in such contests and Kumud did not believe his expectations. In a short amount of time, Kumud defeated everyone in the court of King Vikramaditya
Vikramaditya
Vikramaditya was a legendary emperor of Ujjain, India, famed for his wisdom, valour and magnanimity. The title "Vikramaditya" was later assumed by many other kings in Indian history, notably the Gupta King Chandragupta II and Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya .The name King Vikramaditya is a...
. From there he went to other prominent courts of India and was victorious every time. However these successive triumphs generated a sense of vanity in his mind and he started believing that there was no one was more learned than himself.
He announced for an open contest with any one who claimed superior knowledge and also vowed that if any one could beat him, he would instantly become the winner s disciple. No one however came forward to accept his challenge. This made him even more egotistical. His vanity now knew no bounds. He sewed the emblems of a lamp, a net, a fork, a ladder and a spade onto his clothes and when any one inquired about the purpose of such amazing emblems, he would say that they were meant for his rivals. If any of his opponents, out of fear of defeat, escaped in the dark, he would locate him with his lamp, if one escaped in water, he would trap him with the net, if one escaped in fire, he would get him out with the fork, if one escaped in the sky, he would bring him back with his ladder and if one escaped in the nether world, he would dig him out with the spade. At that time, Jain Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
Vriddhivadi was the head of the Jain religious order. He was very learned but because he was a Jain saint he would not come out to challenge Kumud. Someone told Kumud that his universal conquest would remain incomplete until he vanquished the Jain Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
.
Acharya Vriddhivadi was then camping at Mandu
Mandu
Mandu or Mandavgad is a ruined city in the Dhar district in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh state, central India. The distance between Dhar & Mandu is about 35 km. In the 11th century, Mandu was the sub division of the Tarangagadh or Taranga kingdom...
(Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
), a little away from Ujjayini (Ujjain
Ujjain
Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...
). Kumud rode out to meet him, however, Jain monks do not stay at any one place very long. Accordingly the Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
happened to move towards the next camp that very morning. As Kumud arrived in Mandu
Mandu
Mandu or Mandavgad is a ruined city in the Dhar district in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh state, central India. The distance between Dhar & Mandu is about 35 km. In the 11th century, Mandu was the sub division of the Tarangagadh or Taranga kingdom...
, he came to know that the Acharya had left. He felt that the Acharya was scared of him and had escaped knowing about his arrival. He sped towards the place where the Acharya was headed and intercepted him near the river Kshipra.
He informed the Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
that he was Kumudchandra, the most learned man of India and since the latter claimed to be very learned, he had come to have a contest. The Jain Acharya was rather indifferent but Kumud insisted upon the contest. Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
then suggested to have the contest in the nearby court but Kumud was rather impatient and insisted upon the contest right there with the ranchers of the Kshipra as their judges. Acharya had heard about Kumud and was aware of his reputation as a well known scholar. He saw that the knowledge of Kumud was obscured by the vanity, however he also visualized the immense contribution that Kumud could make to the religious order, if he accepted the Jain faith. Acharya thereupon agreed and asked Kumud to first make his presentation. Kumud seized that opportunity and started exposing the weakness of different schools of thought including Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
. The ranchers had no idea what he was talking about. Then came the turn of the Jain Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
. He knew the real caliber of the ranchers and asked them to form a circle and recite a song. Then with his melodious voice he started singing a song with the following lines:
"Nonviolence is the path of peace; That ultimately leads to bliss."
The ranchers liked the song and merrily recited the same in chorus. Simultaneously they played flute in tune. At the end of the song, Acharya said that he did not want to say anything else. Kumud was sure that he had made his exposition very well and asked the ranchers about the outcome. Ranchers unanimously declared Acharya to be the winner. Kumud immediately realized his folly. His vanity disappeared and he fell at the feet of the Jain Acharya begging him to accept him as the pupil.
Acharya however did not intend to take advantage of that unfair contest. He therefore declined the offer and asked Kumud to a rematch at a nearby court. Kumud replied that the "Acharya was his true preceptor because he made him realize that the real essence of knowledge lay in equanimity of mind and not in vanity with which his own knowledge had been clouded." At the insistence of the Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
he however agreed to have one more contest in the nearby court where Acharya decisively defeated him. So Kumud became his pupil and was renamed Siddhasen that is known as Siddhasen Diwakar.
Work
He inspired the Jain monks to study profoundly the Jain scriptures. He himself devoted to the deep study of Jain works. He was bitterly opposed to the storage of Jain works in isolated places; he eagerly desired to bring them to light for the propagation of JainismJainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
. He himself wrote collected and edited certain important Jain works. He complied the famous Kalyanmandir Stotra. It is a monumental work in Sanskrit poetry. Sanmatitarka is his best book on logic and is widely read even at present. He wrote well known Sakal tirth stotra with the details of all Jain Tirtha
Tirtha
In Jainism, a tīrtha |ford]], a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed") is used to refer both to pilgrimage sites as well as to the four sections of the sangha...
of that time. This work itself places Siddhasen Diwakar on a high pedestal of Jain scholars and pioneers of religious Acharya's of the fifth century.