Samaysaar Shashtra Parampara

Bhagwan Mahavira

Time: Fourth Era

Bhagwan Mahavira renounced worldly life at the age of 30 and took Jain Diksha. After 12 years of intense spiritual practices, he attained Kevalgyana (omniscience). He then preached Jain Dharma through Divya-Dhwani for 30 years and attained liberation (Moksha) at the age of 72 in Pavapuri on Kartik Krishna Amavasya. He is the 24th Tirthankara.

His teachings, articulated in divine speech, were preserved by Ganadharas, Acharyas, and other great scholars, and continue to illuminate the path of liberation for all souls.

Bhagwan Simandhar Swami

Time: Present. Location: Videh Kshetra

Bhagwan Simandhar Swami currently resides in a city near Mount Sumeru within Videh Kshetra, in the eastern direction near the Sita River. His father is Shreyans, and mother is Satya. Even today, in the presence of 100 Indras and Ganadharas, his Divya-Dhwani continues to guide noble souls towards liberation.

Acharya Kundkund (Author of Samayasar)

Era: 1st century BCE

Text: Samayapahud. Language: Prakrit

A supreme spiritual saint remembered after Bhagwan Mahavira and Ganadhar Gautam. Kundkund accepted monastic life at age 11 and authored 84 Pahuds and many other texts. He visited Videh Kshetra in his physical body, listened directly to Simandhar Swami’s teachings for eight days, and then composed texts like Samayasar to guide noble souls on the path of liberation.

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Acharya Amritchandra (Commentator)

Time: 962-1022 CE

Text: Atmakhyati. Language: Sanskrit (Prose & Poetry)

Renowned after Kundkund, Amritchandra achieved great fame with fewer writings. His Atmakhyati commentary on Samayasar is regarded as one of the highest spiritual treatises, along with his commentaries on other major texts.

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Acharya Jayasen (Commentator)

Time: 1100-1200 CE

Text: Tatparyavrutti. Language: Sanskrit (Prose)

Disciple of Acharya Somsen of the Mul Sangh tradition. Born Charubhatt, he became known as Jayasen after embracing Digambar monastic life. Authored three commentaries, all titled Tatparyavrutti.

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Acharya Shubhachandra (Commentator)

Time: 1516-1556 CE

Text: Param Adhyatma Tarangini. Language: Sanskrit (Poetry)

A disciple of Vijaykirti, with mastery over logic, grammar, poetry, and vernacular languages. Honored with titles like Trividhi Vidyadhar and Chakravarti, he authored around 30 compositions in Hindi and Sanskrit.

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Pandit Rajmalji Pandey (Commentator)

Time: 1575 CE

Text: Balbodh. Language: Hindi (Dhundhari dialect)

Born in Virat Nagar near Jaipur during the Mughal era. His commentary Balbodhini on Amritchandra’s Atmakhyati inspired poet Banarsidas to expand on it poetically.

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Pandit Banarsidasji (Poet)

Time: 1636 CE

Text: Natak Samayasar. Language: Hindi (Poetry)

Born into a prestigious Srimal family, he had a sharp intellect for Sanskrit texts. After studying Balbodhini, he developed deep faith in the Digambar tradition and, inspired by the Gommatsar discourses, wrote Natak Samayasar in poetic style to simplify Samayasar for common understanding.

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Pandit Jaychandji Chhabda (Interpreter)

Time: 1804 CE

Text: Samayasar Bhasha Vachanika. Language: Hindi (Dhundhari dialect)

Born in Fagi village near Jaipur, into the Khandelwal community. Though initially disinterested in spirituality, he developed deep love for Jain Dharma later in life and wrote Samayasar’s meaning-based interpretation in easy, accessible language.

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Pujya Gurudev Shri Kanji Swami (Orator)

Time: 1890-1980 CE

Delivered 19 times public discourses on Samayasar. Languages: Gujarati & Hindi

Born in Umrala village, Saurashtra. Initially a Shwetambar monk, he felt an inner disconnect with ritual practices. In 1919 CE, upon receiving the Samayasar text, he exclaimed, “This is the scripture of the bodiless state!” His study of Jain scriptures deepened, and in 1934 CE, on Mahavir Jayanti, he renounced monkhood and became a Digambar lay follower. His extensive study and sermons sparked a new spiritual movement, bringing Samayasar into countless homes and illuminating the nature of the soul and path to liberation.

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