Merutunga

Merutuṅga was a medieval scholar from present-day Gujarat in India and was a Śvētāmbara Jain of the Añcala Gaccha. He is presently most well-known for his Sanskrit text, the Prabandhacintāmaṇi, composed in 1306 CE.[1][2] He also wrote Vicāraśreṇī in 1350 CE which describes the chronology of Chāvḍā, Chaulukya and Vāghelā dynasties.[3][4]

Merutunga
Born14th-century
Died14th-century
Works
Prabandha-Chintamani
Vicharashreni

Works

Prabandhacintāmaṇi
Main article: Prabandha-Chintamani

The Prabandhacintāmaṇi was composed in Vardhamāna (modern-day Wadhwan) in VS 1361 Phālguna Śukla 15, a Sunday.[5] In the text itself, Merutuṅga states that Gaṇī Guṇacandra compiled the first version of the text and that Dharmadeva assisted Merutuṅga in the compilation of the final version.[6]

Therāvalī

The Therāvalī of Merutuṅga is a Paṭṭāvalī that presents a chronology from Mahavira to the arrival of and invasion by the Sakas in India.[7]

Vicāraśreṇī

The Vicāraśreṇī is a bhāṣya on his earlier Therāvalī and was likely composed in VS 1363 (1442 CE).[7]

Ṣaḍdarśananirṇaya

The Ṣaḍdarśananirṇaya is a general exposition of 6 contemporary religious philosophies during Merutuṅga's time.

Mahāpuruṣacarita

The work has survived with a bhāṣya, likely written by Merutuṅga himself, and is a carita, a biography, of five great figures in Jainism: Ṛṣabhadeva, Neminātha, Śāntinātha, Pārśvanātha, and Mahāvīra.[8] Additionally, in the bhāṣya, the original work is named the Upadeśaśataka and the Dharmopadeśaśataka.[8]

Criticism

As a historian, Merutuṅga's works are generally regarded to be of poor quality, as compared with his contemporaries and with modern historians.[9][10]

References

Citations
  1. Cort 2001, p. 35.
  2. Sen 1999, p. 79.
  3. Kailash Chand Jain 1991, p. 85.
  4. Rajyagor, S. B.; Chopra, Pran Nath (1982). "Chapter II: Source Materials of History of Gujarat". History of Gujarat. New Delhi: S. Chand & Company Ltd. p. 17. OCLC 12215325.
  5. Tawney 1901, p. 204.
  6. Tawney 1901, p. 2.
  7. Eggermont 1969, p. 67.
  8. Winternitz 1996, p. 497.
  9. Crouzet 1965, p. 237.
  10. Arai 1978.

Sources
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