Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v1.c35.3

v1.c35.3

About Hemacandra and his time, we know perhaps more than we do with regard to other writers on Poetics, and the biographical and other details will be found collected together in Bühler’s erudite little pamphlet on this author¹. Hemacandra was born at Dhunduka (in Ahmedabad) on the full noon night of the month of Kārttika in the saṃvat year 1145 = 1088-89 A.D., of humble parents, named Caciga and Pahini. He was originally named Cāṅgadeva. He was consecrated as a Jaina monk in saṃvat 1154 = 1098 A.D., taking the name of Somānanda. He was a pupil of Devacandra of Vajra-śākhā, author of the Sthānaka-vṛtti and the Śāntinātha-carita. He became a sūri or ācārya in saṃvat 1166 = 1110 A.D., changing his name, again, into Hemacandra. He spent the greater part of his life, as the acknowledged head of the Jaina community at Aṇahilla-pattana, under the patronage of Jayasiṃha Siddharāja (1094-1143 A.D.) and his successor Kumārapāla of Guzerat, dying shortly before the latter in saṃvat 1229 = 1173 A.D. He wrote most of his works at the request of his patrons, of whom he converted Kumārapāla into Jainism in saṃvat 1216 = 1160 A.D.