Pujyapada was born in Karnataka and received the name Devanandi at his muni diksha. For his sharp intellect he was also called Jinendrabuddhi, and later honoured as Pujyapada, one whose feet are worshipped; tradition says even the gods came to worship his feet. He is linked with the Western Ganga kings, and tradition names him the guru of King Durvinita. He wrote on religious and secular subjects alike, including Sanskrit grammar and, by tradition, medicine.
His Sarvarthasiddhi is the oldest surviving Digambara commentary on Umaswami's Tattvartha Sutra, and it fixed the text of the sutra that Digambaras still recite. His Jainendra Vyakarana is a respected Sanskrit grammar. For daily spiritual life, many Jains love his short works: the Samadhitantra, on knowing the soul as distinct from the body, and the Ishtopadesha, 51 verses of gentle advice on what truly benefits the soul. Later masters such as Akalanka built directly on his work.
