Acharya Hemchandra

Here is a comprehensive summary of the provided text about Acharya Hemchandra:

The text details the life and significant contributions of Acharya Hemchandra, a prominent Jain scholar and spiritual leader born in 1088 A.D. in Dhandhuka, Gujarat. His parents were Chachadev and Pahini. Even before his birth, a Jain Acharya, Devasuri, predicted his son would excel in spiritual knowledge, conduct, and logic. Initially named Changdev, he was identified by Acharya Devasuri as a potential great spiritual leader. Despite his mother's initial reluctance, she eventually surrendered Changdev to Acharya Devasuri for his spiritual upbringing.

Changdev was initiated into Jain monkhood and renamed Somchandra. He demonstrated exceptional intelligence, quickly mastering various philosophies, logic, scriptures, and grammar, while simultaneously cultivating virtues like forbearance, tolerance, holiness, simplicity, discipline, chastity, and generosity. At the young age of twenty-one, Acharya Devasuri conferred upon him the title of Hemchandra Acharya.

Hemchandra's profound knowledge gained widespread recognition, leading to the establishment of a higher form of culture in Gujarat, greatly facilitated by the cooperation of King Siddharaj. After Siddharaj's death, his successor, King Kumarpal, formed a lifelong teacher-disciple relationship with Hemchandra. This relationship was preordained, as Hemchandra had previously predicted Kumarpal's ascension to the throne and had even saved his life. King Kumarpal deeply respected Hemchandra, seeking his guidance in governing, which transformed Gujarat into a hub of non-violence, learning, and refined culture.

Hemchandra's focus was always on the welfare of all citizens, not personal advancement. However, some Brahmins, envious of his influence, attempted to discredit him and Jainism by accusing him of egoism and disrespecting Hindu deities. To prove their point, they challenged Hemchandra to visit a Lord Shiva temple. Hemchandra readily accepted and, upon arriving, bowed before Lord Shiva. He articulated his reverence not for a specific deity but for the virtues of passionlessness (destruction of attachment and aversion), stating that whether the deity was Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, or Jin, he bowed to that quality. This act demonstrated his noble attitude of respecting other faiths and recognizing virtues across different religious traditions, a core tenet of Jainism which advocates for peaceful coexistence.

Under Hemchandra's influence, King Kumarpal embraced Jainism, implementing policies that prohibited animal violence and promoted the Jain religion. Vegetarianism became widespread throughout Gujarat.

Acharya Hemchandra was a prolific writer, composing numerous literary works, including the influential Yoga-shastra. He is credited with being the first to advocate for non-violence on a political platform and is considered the architect of Gujarat's greatness and unity. He was so revered for his wisdom that he was known as 'Kali-kal Sarvajna' (all-knower in the present era of darkness). He passed away in 1173 A.D. at the age of eighty-four.

The text concludes by emphasizing that Jain culture continues to thrive in Gujarat due to Hemchandra's literary contributions. It highlights the praiseworthy sacrifice of his mother, Pahini, which was a great gift to Jainism. Hemchandra's role in Kumarpal's conversion to Jainism is underscored as the reason for the flourishing of Jainism and vegetarianism in Gujarat. His numerous literary masterpieces are considered a treasure, and studying them is presented as the way to pay tribute to him.