Jinasena

Jinasena (9th century CE) was the great Digambara acharya of the Dravida Sangha — author of the Adipurana and the doctrine-defining Dravyasangraha, and the teacher of the Rashtrakuta king Amoghavarsha.

Background

Successor in the lineage of Kundakunda’s school (the Desi? — the Dravida Sangha line), Jinasena flourished under the Rashtrakutas; his pupil (and the tradition’s associate) Gunabhadra completed the Adipurana’s companion (the Uttapurana) after him.

Spiritual Contribution

The Adipurana (the life of Rishabha — the first Tirthankara — in Sanskrit mahakavya form, a literary monument); the Dravyasangraha (a compact doctrinal summary — substances, souls, karma — still a textbook); the Mahapurana tradition’s foundation; his counsel to Amoghavarsha (the king’s own Jain-leaning rule reflecting the acharya’s influence).

Legacy and Impact

The Adipurana’s literary model shaped Jain mahakavya for a millennium; Dravyasangraha remains the Digambara doctrine primer; his lineage (the Sena-gana) carried Karnataka Jainism’s institutional strength.

Verification notes

• Authorship attributions (with the Gunabhadra division of the Mahapurana) are standard scholarship.
• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).