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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 | |
|---|---|
 An idol of Acharya Siddhasena Divakarasuri at a Śvetāmbara Jain temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 5th century CE |
| Died | 5th century CE |
| Notable work(s) | Nyāyāvatāra, Kalyanmandir, Vardhman Shakrastav |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Jainism |
| Sect | Śvetāmbara |
| Initiation | by Acharya Vruddhavadisuri |
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Siddhasena 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]
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Siddhasena'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]
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He 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]
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