Udayasundari Katha

The Udayasundari Katha, authored by Soddhala and published in 1920 by the Central Library, Baroda, as part of the Gaekwad's Oriental Series, is a significant work in Jain literature. The introduction, compiled and partly edited by C. D. Dalal and completed by Embar Krishnamacharya, provides detailed information about the author, his lineage, life, and the historical context of the composition.

Author's Lineage and Background: Soddhala, a Kayastha by caste, hailed from the Lata region (southern Gujarat). He traced his ancestry to Kaladitya, the brother of Siladitya, whom he considered an incarnation of a Gaṇa associated with Shiva. This lineage allowed him to take pride in his Kshatriya descent. His lineage is outlined as: Kaladitya (founder) -> Chandrapati -> Sollapeya -> Soora -> Soddhala.

Author's Life and Time: While the exact birthplace remains uncertain, Soddhala did not flourish in his native land. He lost his father at a young age and was raised by his maternal uncle, Gangadhara. He received his education from a teacher named Chandra. After completing his studies, he moved to Sthanaka (modern Thane), the capital of the Konkana kingdom. Here, he enjoyed the patronage of the three royal brothers: Chittaraja, Nag Arjuna, and Mummuniraja, who ruled Konkana sequentially. He also mentions being a contemporary of Vatsaraja, the Chalukya king of Lata. The historical inscriptions of Chittaraja (dated 1026 AD) and Mummuniraja (dated 1060 AD) help to place Soddhala's flourishing period in the 11th century AD.

Date of Composition: The Udayasundari Katha is estimated to have been composed between 1026 AD and 1050 AD. The author indicates that the work was finished during the lifetime of Vatsaraja, who likely died before 1050 AD, as his son made a gift deed in that year assuming the royal title. The work was presented to Mummuniraja shortly after its completion, suggesting Mummuniraja was already on the throne by then, which was after 1026 AD.

Author's Life Incidents and Merits: Soddhala's talent was recognized even during his student days. He gained great honor at the Konkana courts. Once, Vatsaraja of Lata, possibly in a taunting manner, recited a verse that inspired Soddhala to compose the Udayasundari Katha. He is described as a proud yet not arrogant writer, a worthy follower of Bana, praised for the sweetness, melody, beauty of ideas, and unique creative fancy of his language. Gujarat is credited with producing this literary gem.

Manuscript Material and Editorial Task: The edition is based on a solitary manuscript secured by Mr. Chimanlal D. Dalal from the Parsvanatha Bhandar in Patan. Unfortunately, Dalal passed away while the work was being printed, and the remaining task was entrusted to Embar Krishnamacharya. Krishnamacharya acknowledges the challenges posed by the manuscript's errors and omissions, requesting understanding from readers for any shortcomings in his completion of the work.

The Narrative of Udayasundari: The text itself introduces the story with the king Malayavahana of Pratishthana, who obtained Udayasundari, the daughter of Shikhandatilaka, the king of the Nagas, comparing her to Lakshmi born from the ocean. The narrative then delves into the author's own life, his ancestry, his encounters with royalty, and the inspiration behind his literary creation. The latter parts of the provided text contain detailed descriptions of places, events, philosophical discussions, and the unfolding of the Udayasundari story, including supernatural elements and the transformation of characters. The story involves divine intervention, the search for a prince, and the poet's own journey of creation. The text is rich in descriptive language, mythological references, and cultural insights of the period.