Hemchandra Suri- Early life, Books, Death [UPSC Notes]

Hemachandra Suri (1088A.D.-1172A.D.)

Acharya Hemachandra was an Indian Jain scholar, poet, and polymath who lived in the 11th century. He is credited with writing on grammar, doctrine, prosody, and contemporary history. He was noted as a prodigy by his contemporaries and was bestowed the title ‘Kalikal Sarvagya’, literally meaning “the all-knowing of the Kali Yuga  (age of vice)”.

Early Life of Hemachandra Suri

• Acharya Hemachandra Suri was born in 1088 AD in the town of Dhandhuka, present Gujrat, around 100 kilometers southwest of Ahmedabad. His father Chachadev and his mother Pahini named him Changdeva.

•   The Jain Temple of Modhera Tirtha is located at his birthplace. In his childhood, the Jain monk Deva Suri visited Dhandhuka and was impressed by the young Hemachandra’s intellect. His mother and maternal uncle concurred with Deva Suri, in opposition to his father, that Hemachandra be a disciple of his.

•   Deva Suri and Hemachandra traveled to Khambhat, where he was initiated as a Jain monk on Magha Sud Chauth (4th day of the bright half of Magha month) and was given a new name, Somchandra.

• He was trained in religious discourse, philosophy, logic, and grammar and became well-versed in Jain and non-Jain scriptures.

•       At the age of 21, he was ordained an Acharya of the Shwetambra of Jainism, at Nagaur in Rajasthan, and was named Acharya Hemachandra Suri.

Literary Works of Hemachandra Suri

 In addition to preaching Jainism, Acharya Hemachandra was a prodigious writer who wrote grammars of Sanskrit and Prakrit, poetry, prosody, lexicons, texts on science and logic, and practically all branches of Indian Philosophy. It is said that Hemachandra composed in total about 3.5 Crore verses, of which many are now lost.

•  In Grammar, Hemachandra wrote ‘Siddha-Hema-Sabdanusasana’, a Sanskrit Grammar written in the Asthadhyayi style of Panini, also including six Prakrit languages.

• In poetry, he wrote ‘Dvyashraya Kavya’ and ‘Trishashthi-Shalaka-Purusha’, the former being on the history of the Solanki dynasty. It is an important source of the history of the region of the time. In Lexicography, Hemachandra wrote lexicons ‘Abhidhan-Chintamani’, ‘Anekarth Kosha’ of words bearing multiple meanings, ‘Deshi-Shabda-Sangraho’ of non-Sanskrit origin, and ‘Niganthu Sesa’ that is a botanical lexicon.

• In Mathematics, Hemachandra, following the earlier Gopala, presented an earlier version of the Fibonacci sequence. It was presented around 1150, about fifty years before Fibonacci (1202).

•   His other works include prosody ‘Chandanushasana’, commentary in rhetoric work ‘Alankara Chudamani’, ‘Abhidhana-Chintamani’, ‘Yoga-Shastra’ (treatises on Yoga), ‘Pramana-means’ on Logic and ‘Vitaraga-Stotra’ on prayers.

Spiritual Impact of Hemachandra Suri

During the time of Acharya Hemachandra, Gujarat was ruled by the Solanki Dynasty. Under the reign of Siddharaj Jaisingh I, Hemachandra rose to prominence. The fame of Hemachandra’s efficacy and knowledge gradually spread everywhere

• The noble culture was on the rise in Gujarat due to the ability of Hemachandra and the cooperation of King Siddharaja. King Siddharaja was succeeded by Kumarpala. Hemachandra had predicted seven years earlier that Kumarapala would be the king. Also, the Acharya had once saved Kumarapala’s life. Therefore, Kumarapala considered Hemachandra his spiritual ‘guru’ (teacher) and benefactor.

•   Kumarapala gave him exceptional honor in his court and sought his advice in the shaping of his kingdom in Gujarat. In a very short time, Gujarat became a center of non-violence, learning, and good culture. In the year 1121, Hemachandra was involved in the construction of the Jain temple in Tauranga .

•   Taking the approach of Anekantavada, Acharya Hemachandra is said to have displayed a broad-minded attitude and pleased Kumarapala, with his perspective of universal welfare over his own career development. Perceiving the rise and popularity of Hemachandra, certain Brahmins. grew jealous of him and complained to the Emperor that Hemachandra was a very arrogant person who did not have any respect towards the Hindu Gods and that he refused to bow down to Lord Shiva.

• King Kumarpala was not ready to accept these views about his spiritual teacher, he invited Hemachandra to the temple of Lord Shiva (God of destruction). To the surprise of those Brahmins, Hemachandra readily bowed before the idol of Shiva, but by saying:

“Bhavbijaskurajanana ragadayah kshaymupagata yasya; Brahma va Vishnurva haro Jino va namastasmai”, meaning that he was bowing down only before that God who has demolished the passions like attachment and hatred which are the cause of worldly life, whether he is Brahma, Vishnu, or Jina.

• He ensured that he always remained true to the principles of Jainism, like a Jain should bow down only to a passionless and detached god. This approach of Hemachandra pleased Kumarapala who became an ardent devotee and follower of Hemachandra, also the Jain religious faith had also become the official religion of Gujarat, with even animal slaughter being banned.

 Death of Acharya Hemachandra Suri

Acharya Hemachandra announced about his death six months in advance and fasted in his last days, a Jain Practice called Sallekhana. He died at Anhilwad Patan. The year of death differs according to sources, but 1173 is generally accepted. The Jain culture still shines brightly in Gujarat, due to the influence of the literary works contributed by the great Acharya Hemachandra.

Conclusion

Acharya Hemachandra Suri was the spiritual teacher of King Kumarpal of the state of Gujarat. It is because of Hemchandra acharya that Kumarpal accepted Jainism and became a Jain. It is because of this reason that Jainism and vegetarianism flourish well in the state of Gujarat. Hemachandra Suri has composed many literary masterpieces and has written a treatise on original Jain texts.