Acharya Veersen
Biographical Introduction:
Acharya Veersen was not only an expert in Jain doctrine but also a profound scholar of mathematics, logic, astrology, and grammar. His intellectual brilliance was immense.
Acharya Jinsen, his disciple, described him as:
- The chief of debaters (Vadipramukh),
- An eloquent orator,
- A renowned poet,
- And equal in knowledge to a Shrutakevali (omniscient in scriptures).
He wrote that upon witnessing Veersen's universal wisdom, even the wisest minds never doubted the existence of omniscient beings (sarvajna). Due to this exceptional intellect, Acharya Jinsen, in the prefaces of Adipurana and Dhavala, praised him as “Kavivrindarak” (leader among poets).
Acharya Jinsen wrote:
"May the illustrious Acharya Veersen Bhattarak purify us, whose soul is pure, who is supreme among poets, who has profound knowledge of worldly customs and poetic form, and in whose speech even the divine guru Brihaspati seems limited."
Thus, Veersen was a renowned poet, eloquent speaker, and most importantly, a great commentator on Jain canonical texts.
- He was a disciple of Aryanandi and a student of Elacharya.
- His spiritual guru (Diksha Guru) was Aryanandi.
- His time period is firmly established, as his disciple Acharya Jinsen completed Veersen’s unfinished Jayadhavala commentary on Phalguna Shukla Dashami, Shaka Samvat 759 (i.e., 816 CE). Therefore, Acharya Veersen passed away before this date, making his period 9th century CE.
Literary Contributions:
1. Dhavala Tika
- A massive commentary on the first five volumes of the Shatkhandagama.
- Composed in a mix of Prakrit and Sanskrit, in Mani-Pravala style (intermixed gem-like writing).
- Despite being a commentary, it is regarded as an independent and authoritative philosophical treatise.
- Contains around 72,000 verses.
- Covers diverse topics such as logic, astrology, inference, metaphysics, mathematics, and provides in-depth explanation of subtle doctrinal issues.
- Also includes quotations from ancient Jain texts, proving Veersen’s immense scriptural scholarship.
- He completed the Dhavala Tika on Shaka 738, Kartik Shukla 13 (Wednesday morning, 816 CE) during the reign of King Amoghavarsha I.
2. Jayadhavala Tika
- A commentary on the first four chapters of the Kasaya Prabhrta, another canonical Jain text.
- Acharya Veersen could write only about 20,000 verses before his passing.
- The remaining parts were completed by his disciple, Acharya Jinsen.
Legacy:
Acharya Veersen is described as:
- Comparable to a Kevali (omniscient being) in terms of mastery over knowledge.
- His speech (teachings) is said to reign over the six parts of the Shatkhandagama, in the same way that Emperor Bharat’s command was followed across the six divisions of India.
- His works are considered undisputed and authoritative—no one dares refute them.
- It is truly astonishing how a single person could possess such profound and wide-ranging command over the Agamas (Jain canonical texts).