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{{use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| honorific-prefix = Acharya
| name = Somsundar
| honorific-suffix = Suri
| religion = [[Jainism]]
| sect = [[Śvetāmbara]]
| birth_name = Somkumar
| birth_date = [[Vikram Samvat]] 1430 (1373 CE)
| birth_place = [[Palanpur]]
| death_date = Vikram Samvat 1499 (1442 CE)
| death_place = [[Ranakpur]]
| parents = Sajjana, Malhandevi
| initiation_name = Somsundar
| initiator = Jayanand Suri
| initiation_place =
| teacher = Jayanand Suri
| notable_works =
| post = [[Acharya (Jainism)]]
}}
{{Jainism}}
'''Somsundar Suri''' was a 15th-century Jain monk and leader of the [[Tapa Gaccha]], a monastic order of [[Śvetāmbara|Swetambara]] [[Jainism]]. He had consecrated several [[Jain temple|Jain temples]] and had written several works in [[Sanskrit]], [[Prakrit]] and [[Old Gujarati|Gujarati]].

==Biography==
The ''Soma-Saubhagya Kavya'', ''Guru Guna Ratnakara-Kavya'' and several other texts details the life and religious activities of Somsundar Suri.{{snf|Somani|1994|pp=52}}

Somsundar Suri was born to Sajjana and Malhandevi in Magha Vad 14, Friday, [[Vikram Samvat]] 1430 in [[Palanpur]].{{snf|Joshi|2002|p=11}} He was named Somkumar by his parents. Tapa Gaccha leader Jayanand Suri visited Palanpur and met his parents. They agreed and Somkumar was initiated in the monkhood at the age of 7 in Vikram Samvat 1437 and was named Somsundar. Following death of Jayanand Suri, Devsundar Suri succeeded as the leader of Tapa Gaccha.{{snf|Joshi|2002|p=12}} After completing his religious studies, Somsundar was appointed religious positions of Gani and later Upadhyaya in Vikram Samvat 1450. He visited [[Mewar]] that year where he was received by [[Chunda Sisodia|Chunda]] who was a son of [[Rana Lakha|Maharana Lakha of Mewar]], and his minister Ramadeva Nawalakha. There several families following [[Kharatara Gaccha]] joined Tapa Gaccha due to his efforts. After spending some time in Mewar, he returned to [[Patan, Gujarat|Anahilpur Patan]] and was appointed as [[Acharya]] in Vikram Samvat 1457. Following death of Devsundarsuri, he succeeded him as the leader of Tapa Gaccha. He traveled in the regions which correspond to present-day Mewar, [[Gorwar]], [[Sirohi district|Sirohi]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Gujarat]].{{snf|Joshi|2002|p=13}}{{snf|Somani|1994|pp=52-53}}
[[File:Jain Temple Ranakpur.jpg|thumb|Somsundar Suri consecrated the first storey of this Ranakpur Jain temple. He died and was cremated there.|left]]
He undertook many ''Pratisthā-Sangh-Yatras'' (consecration pilgrimages) and other religious activities. He performed several journeys to the [[Palitana temples|Shatrunjya temples]] at [[Palitana]] and other religious places.{{snf|Somani|1994|pp=52-53}} During his tenure, under his tutelage, a large number of monks were initiated and appointed on various religious positions. A large number of temples were restored and built under his guidance including the restoration of [[Taranga Jain temple|Taranga temple]].{{snf|Joshi|2002|pp=14-17}}{{snf|Somani|1995|p=153}} In Vikram Samvat 1478, he consecrated the Jain temple of [[Jawar]]. He was at Delawara in Vikram Samvat 1482 when Laxmansinha copied the manuscript of ''[[Kālakācārya Kathā|Kalakacharya Katha]]'' as its [[Colophon (publishing)|colophon]] mentions it. When [[Jirawala Tirth|Jirawala Parshwanath temple]] was renovated, the [[acharya]]s of Tapa Gaccha were present there for [[Chaturmasya|chaturmas]] in Vikram Samvat 1483. He consecrated the temple of Machind fort built by Visal, near [[Kumbhalgarh]]. In Vikram Samvat 1495, he consecrated the Mahavira-prasada temple at [[Chittorgarh|Chittor]]. He consecrated the first storey of [[Ranakpur Jain temple|Ranakpur temple]], which was constructed by Dharanashah in Vikram Samvat 1498.{{snf|Somani|1994|pp=52}} The consecration ceremony is described by poet Meha's ''Raningpura Stavana.'' He died of old age in Vikram Samvat 1499 at [[Ranakpur]] where he was cremated.{{snf|Joshi|2002|p=19}}{{snf|Somani|1995|p=153}}{{snf|Somani|1994|pp=52-53}}{{snf|Somani|1994|pp=53}}

==Literary works==
Somsundar Suri had written in Sanskrit, Prakrit and [[Old Gujarati|Gujarati]].{{snf|Joshi|2002|pp=29-31}}{{snf|Somani|1994|pp=52-53}}

He authored a number of texts, including ''Bhashya-traya Churni'', ''Kalyanaka Stavana–Ratna Kosha'', ''Upadesha Balavabodha'', ''Yoga Shastra Balavabodha'', and ''Bhashya-traya Avachurni'', among others. The ''Upadesha Balavabodha'' is a practical guidance on conduct and social manners. To explain difficult or subtle religious ideas, he often relied on brief illustrative stories.{{snf|Somani|1994|pp=53}}

Another notable text, ''Yoga Shastra Balavabodha'', explores classical yogic thought, including the doctrine of the five [[Five Vows|Mahavratas]] along with various related themes. He often chose regional languages for his compositions.{{snf|Somani|1994|pp=53}}

===Sanskrit===
* ''Adinath Stotra (Abumandan)''
* ''Rishabhajina-stavan''
* ''Girnar-stotra''
* ''Jina-kalyan stuti – Vartikadi''
* ''Jina-kalyan stuti – Masanukramen''
* ''Navkhand Parshvanath stavah Avachurni''
* ''Nemijina-stava (Girnar-mandan)''
* ''Yugadideva-stava''
* ''Saptatishata-jina-stuti''
* ''Sadharan Jina Kalyanak Panchak Stavan''
* ''Stambhanak Parshvanath Panchvishatika''
* ''Simandhar Jina-stavan–Bhashashtakamayah Avachurisah''
* ''Yushmadasmad-rupagarbhit Ashtadasha-jina-stavah Avachuri Sah Panchapath''
* ''Chaityavandanadi Bhashyatracha Avachunri''
* ''Devavandanadi Bhashyatracha Avachunri''
* ''Uttam Charitra Narendra-katha Padya''
* ''Rishabhastava Arbuda-chalastha''
* ''Diksha-kalyanak-stava''
* ''Yatijit Kalparatna-kosha''
* ''Atura Pratyakhyan–Avachurni''
* Sanskrit ''Avachuri'' on Prakrit work ''Chatusharan-payanana''
* ''Ranpur-simayan Mahaprasade Chaturvishati Jina-stuti''
* ''Chyavan-kalyanak-stava''
* ''Janma-kalyanak-stava''
* ''Jina-kalyanak Pancha-stavan''
* ''Gyan-kalyanak-stavan''

===Prakrit===

* ''Aradhana-ras''
* Last five Prakrit stanzas of ''Neminath-kavya''
===Gujarati===

* ''Updeshmala–Balavabodh''
* ''Navatattva-prakaran–Balavabodh''
* ''Shraddha-pratikraman-sutra–Padavashyak-vandita Sutrakatha''
* ''Anek Vichar''
* ''Pashthishatak Balavabodh''
* ''Vichar-sangrah Balavabodh''
* ''Vichar-balavabodh''
* ''Yog-shastra-vartik Balavabodh''
* ''Shadavashyak Balavabodh''
* ''Aradhana-pataka–Balavabodha''
* ''Neminath-stavan''
* ''Neminath Samavasaran Stavan''
* ''Neminath-stavan: Swamano Vigyaptirup''
* ''Rangsagar Nemijina Fag'' (Sanskrit [[shloka]], Prakrit [[Kāvya|kavya]], Gujarati [[fagu]])
* ''Shri Shatrunjay Shri Adinath-stavan''
* ''Neminath Fag''
* ''Nandishwardvip Prasad Vichar Sthapana Sah''
* ''Goyampuchchha (Gautamaprucchhha) Balavabodh''

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book|last=Joshi|first=Dr. Dipti H.|title=Jainkavi Acharyashree Somsundarsoori|date=July 2002|publisher=D. H. Joshi with [[Gujarat Sahitya Akademi]]|edition=1|language=gu|script-title=gu:જૈનકવિ આચાર્યશ્રી સોમસુંદરસૂરિ|pages=11–31}}
* {{cite journal|last=Somani|first=Ramvallabh|title=Somsundar Suri of Tapa Gaccha|volume=XXIX|date=October 1994|pages=52–56|journal=Jain Journal|publisher=Jain Bhawan|issn=0021-4043|location=Kolkata|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vWdRAAAAYAAJ}}
* {{Cite book |last=Somani |first=Ramvallabh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rztuAAAAMAAJ&q=somsundar+suri |title=Maharana Kumbha and His Times: A Glorious Hindu King |date=1995 |publisher=Jaipur Publishing House |pages=153 |language=en}}
{{ref end}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:15th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Medieval Indian Jain poets]]
[[Category:15th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:1373 births]]
[[Category:1442 deaths]]
[[Category:Jain monks]]
[[Category:People from Banaskantha district]]

Somsundar Suri - Revision history

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