Kalakasuri

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text about Acharya Shrimad Kalakasuri (second Kalakacharya) in English:

This text, extracted from "Shramana Bhagwanto Part 1 & 2," focuses on the life and significant contributions of Acharya Shrimad Kalakasuri, also known as the second Kalakacharya. He is renowned in Jain history for his extraordinary valor in protecting the Jain faith and the practice of asceticism. His decisions have shaped the observance of the Paryushana festival, particularly the Savatsari Mahaparva, which is celebrated on the fifth day of Bhadrapada month to this day.

Early Life and Renunciation:

• Acharya Kalakasuri was born as Prince Kalak in the city of Dharavas, the son of King Veerasen and Queen Sur Sundari. His sister was named Saraswati.
• One day, while riding outside the city, Prince Kalak encountered Acharya Gunakarsuri giving a discourse. The Acharya's renunciation-filled, calm, and heart-touching words inspired Vairagya (dispassion) in Kalak.
• With the permission of his parents, and with his sister Saraswati also deciding to renounce worldly life, both Kalak and Saraswati took initiation from Acharya Gunakarsuri.

Ascension to Acharya and the Incident with King Gardabhilla:

• Kalak, now Kalak Muni, quickly became well-versed in the Jain Agamas due to his sharp intellect and keen interest in knowledge. His Guru, recognizing his merit, appointed him as an Acharya.
• Acharya Kalakasuri once arrived in Avanti (Ujjain) with his disciples. His sister, Sadhvi Saraswati, also came there. Sadhvi Saraswati was exceptionally beautiful, like the goddess Saraswati herself.
• The local king, Gardabhilla, known for his lust, heard about Sadhvi Saraswati's beauty and had her abducted by his soldiers. Despite her cries, no one dared to intervene due to the king's immense power.
• Upon learning of this, Acharya Kalakasuri went to the royal court and confronted King Gardabhilla. He questioned how fruits could be protected if the very fence meant to guard them became the predator. He emphasized that as the protector of his subjects, the king's act of abducting a Sadhvi was unjust and demanded her release.
• Despite repeated explanations from Acharya Kalakasuri, and appeals from prominent citizens, scholars, and even neighboring kings, the obstinate king remained unmoved.

Kalakasuri's Resolve and Intervention:

• Witnessing the king's obstinacy and the insult to the Dharma, Acharya Kalakasuri's Kshatra Teja (kshatriya spirit) ignited. He vowed to stop this irreligious and harmful king, even to the point of taking on the repercussions of such an action if he failed.
• Aware of Gardabhilla's military and scholarly strength, Acharya Kalakasuri strategically began wandering through the city, uttering seemingly nonsensical statements like, "What if Gardabhilla is king? What if the country is prosperous? What if the city is secure?" This bewildered the populace and made the king believe that the Acharya was speaking incoherently due to his sister's abduction.
• Acharya Kalakasuri then left the city, understanding that to rescue his sister, he needed to defeat Gardabhilla and require the support of a ruling power. He sought alliances with surrounding kings, but none were willing to challenge Gardabhilla.

Alliance with the Shaka Kings and the Defeat of Gardabhilla:

• Ultimately, Acharya Kalakasuri traveled beyond India to Iran. There, he forged a strong friendship with the various Shaka chieftains (feudal kings) ruling under the Shaka emperor, using his knowledge and influence.
• When 96 Shaka chieftains faced threats from their emperor, Acharya Kalak advised them to come to Hindustan for safety. They agreed.
• With a large contingent of Shaka soldiers and their families, Acharya Kalakasuri led them across the Indus River to the coast of Saurashtra. They conquered Saurashtra first.
• After a period of stay in Saurashtra due to the monsoon, Acharya Kalak, with the vast Shaka army, proceeded to Latapradesha, arriving at its capital, Bhrugukachchha (Bharuch).
• He gathered the ruler of Bharuch, Balmitra and Bhanumitra, along with their armies, and camped at the border of Malava.
• King Gardabhilla possessed a special magical power (Gandharva Vidya) that could incapacitate enemy armies within a radius of about three and a half leagues by emitting a sound. Acharya Kalakasuri knew this.
• To counter this, he strategically positioned 108 Lakshavedhi (arrow-shooting experts) archers. The Shaka and Lata armies then attacked Ujjain.
• When Gardabhilla used his Gandharva Vidya from atop the fort and opened his mouth to emit the sound, the 108 arrows instantly plugged his mouth. The Ujjain army, facing the combined forces of the Shaka chieftains and the Lata army, was defeated, and Gardabhilla was overthrown.

Aftermath and the Establishment of Vikram Samvat:

• Acharya Kalakasuri freed his sister, Sadhvi Saraswati, and re-initiated her after she underwent penance. He also fulfilled his vow, achieving equanimity and purification.
• Following the war, Shaka chieftains established their rule in Avanti. Later, King Balmitra and Bhanumitra defeated this foreign power and became rulers. According to the "Brihad Avasyak Churni," Balmitra and Bhanumitra were victorious, with Balmitra taking the throne and his younger brother Bhanumitra becoming the crown prince. This Balmitra was none other than Maharaja Vikramaditya, the propagator of the Vikram Samvat era. Both brothers were nephews of Acharya Kalakasuri.

Challenges and the Origin of Savatsari Date:

• Acharya Kalakasuri resumed leading the monastic community.
• According to the "Nishith Churni," Acharya Kalak performed his Chaturmas (four-month retreat) in Avanti during the reign of Balmitra and Bhanumitra.
• The text presents a slightly different account from "Prabhavak Charitra," suggesting Acharya Kalak's Chaturmas was in Bharuch. This version states that the king's priest, envious of the respect Acharya Kalak received, plotted against him. He convinced Balmitra and Bhanumitra that the Acharya's footprints on the path were being disrespected by the public, which was inauspicious for the kingdom.
• To avoid the direct accusation of expelling the Acharya during the monsoon, the king's priest orchestrated a plan where all households were asked to offer a specific, potent type of food to Acharya Kalak. This act, intended as an "upasarg" (hardship) due to the unavailability of suitable food, forced Acharya Kalak to undertake his Vihar during the monsoon.
• From there, Acharya Kalak went to Pratishthanpur, ruled by King Shatavahana, a devout follower of Jainism.
• As the Paryushana festival approached, it was customary to celebrate Savatsari Mahaparva on the fifth day of Bhadrapada. However, in that region, the fifth day was celebrated as a secular festival called "Indra Parva."
• King Shatavahana requested Acharya Kalakasuri to shift the Savatsari celebration to the fourth day of Bhadrapada so he could participate fully. Acharya Kalakasuri agreed.
• Thus, in that year, Acharya Kalakasuri, the king, and the Sangh celebrated Savatsari on the fourth day of Bhadrapada. The following year, the entire Sangh resolved to celebrate Savatsari on the fourth day of Bhadrapada henceforth. This tradition, established by Acharya Kalakasuri's decision, has continued for approximately 1100 years, a testament to his profound influence.

Discipline and the Nature of Knowledge:

• In his old age, Acharya Kalakasuri returned to Avanti and was giving Agama recitations to his disciples. However, his disciples showed little enthusiasm and were negligent in their studies.
• Distressed by their laxity, Acharya Kalakasuri decided to leave them to discipline them. He believed that remaining with undisciplined students would lead to negative karma and that his departure would help them realize their mistake.
• He informed his attendant, Shyyatar, that he was going to Swarnabhumi (likely a region in Burma) to meet his grand-disciple Sagar, without informing his current disciples. He instructed Shyyatar to only reveal his whereabouts if the disciples pressed him persistently.
• Acharya Kalakasuri went alone to Swarnabhumi and met Sagar. Sagar, engrossed in his studies, treated the elderly Acharya with casualness, not recognizing him. During a recitation session, Sagar patronizingly asked the Acharya if he understood his teachings. The Acharya confirmed he did. Sagar, with pride, told him to listen carefully.
• Meanwhile, Acharya Kalakasuri's disciples discovered his absence. After searching in vain, they learned from Shyyatar that their Acharya had gone to Swarnabhumi due to their negligence.
• Filled with remorse and seeking their Acharya's guidance, the disciples traveled to Swarnabhumi. Upon arriving, they asked Sagar's disciples if Acharya Kalak was present. They were told only an old monk was there.
• When the disciples of Acharya Kalakasuri approached the old monk, they recognized him as their Acharya. Sagar, realizing his disrespect, felt immense regret and begged for forgiveness. He humbly asked if his Agama recitations were proper.
• Acharya Kalakasuri confirmed his recitations were accurate but cautioned him against pride, explaining that knowledge, like dust carried by the wind, diminishes as it passes through various lineages of transmission (Ganadharas, Acharyas, Upadhyayas). He emphasized that the original teachings of the Tirthankaras become greatly abbreviated by the time they reach others.
• Acharya Kalakasuri then instructed Sagar on the true meaning of "Ashtapushpi" (eight-petaled flower), representing the eight virtues: non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, non-possession, renunciation of attachment and aversion, Dharma Dhyana (meditation on Dharma), and Shukla Dhyana (pure meditation). He stressed that worshipping the soul with these virtues leads to auspiciousness and pure spiritual feeling, and advised Sagar not to be arrogant about his knowledge.

Other Aspects of Kalakasuri's Life:

• The "Nishith Churni" also mentions Acharya Kalaka's presence in Avanti and his grand-disciple Sagar in Swarnabhumi. This event of leaving undisciplined disciples occurred before the year 45 of the Mahavira Nirvana era.
• Acharya Kalak had a vast following but was not attached to them, understanding that staying with undisciplined disciples would lead to further karma. His departure exemplifies his detached spiritual practice.
• He was diligently engaged in the propagation of knowledge. Seeing the instability of his disciples, he realized their incomplete understanding of the science of auspicious timings (Muhurta). To gain expertise in this field, he learned the art from an Ajivika in Pratishthanpur, an event placed before the year 453 of the Mahavira Nirvana era.
• When Acharya Kalaka went to Iran, he impressed the local chieftains with his knowledge of omens (Nimitta Vidya) and mantras, and brought them to Hindustan.
• Acharya Kalakasuri's life is filled with astonishing and instructive incidents. He guided influential figures like Emperor Vikramaditya, King Shatavahana, the royal family of Latapradesha, and the Shaka chieftains of Iran. He brought about significant political and religious transformations.
• His life narrative includes an incident where he faced disrespect from Indra (as mentioned in "Prabhavak Charitra," though the text is unclear about the exact context of "nigedana akhyan"). He authored works such as "Prathmanug," "Gadikanug," and "Kalaka Samhita."
• Acharya Shrimad Kalakasuri attained Nirvana around the year 465 of the Mahavira Nirvana era.