Adinath Vinti Pooja - Book Summary

This is a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Adinath Vinti Pooja" by Rasila Kadia, based on the supplied pages:

The document is an article from "Anusandhan-27" (March 2004) published by ZZ_Anusandhan, detailing the "Adinath Vinti Pooja" by Rasila Kadia.

Page 1: Introduction and Context

Source of the Text: The presented work is a copy of a manuscript obtained from the library of La.Da.Bha. Vidyamandir, Ahmedabad. Guidance in deciphering the text was provided by Shri Lakshmanbhai Bhojke, to whom the author expresses gratitude.
Manuscript Details: This appears to be a single-page manuscript. While the exact date of writing is not mentioned, the script style suggests it could be from the 19th century. The manuscript concludes with the inscription "Pandit Sudhabhushan Shishyen Alekhio" (written by the disciple of Pandit Sudhabhushan).
Authorship and Creation: It is mentioned that this "Vinti" (prayer/petition) might have been composed by Shri Jinmanikya and his disciple Anantahansa, under Shri Lakshmisagarsuri. It was also composed during the reign of Gachchhapati Ratnasekharsuri.
Manuscript Condition: The handwriting is described as being quite messy and scratched in places, with some inversion of letters and frequent use of anusvaras (nasalization marks). The 21st stanza ends with "Iti Shri Adinath Vinti Pooja," and then in the same handwriting, stanzas 22 and 29 are provided below and in the margin, which have been transcribed consecutively.
Content and Theme: The poem expresses the poet's intense eagerness to meet Lord Adinath after undertaking a pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya. This feeling is well-expressed in the description of the Lord's image. The poet also recalls those who attained liberation on Shatrunjaya. He describes his own suffering in separation from the Lord and his eagerness to meet him in every rebirth.
Poetic Comparisons: Drawing parallels to the famous line "Why don't we become peacocks, Vimalgiri?" (referring to birds on Vimalgiri mountain who greet the Lord every morning), the poet highlights the blessedness of such birds. Similarly, like a peacock dancing at the sight of clouds or a chakor bird with the moon, the poet rejoices at the sight of the peak of Shatrunjaya.
Significance of the Work: The text "Shri Adinath Vinti" exists in multiple forms. This particular work is praised for its quality and is likely to be of interest to scholars.

Page 2: The Prayer (Vinti) - Stanzas 1-11

This page contains the beginning of the "Adinath Vinti Pooja" itself. The stanzas express:

Longing for Darshan: The poet expresses his long wait to see the Lord's beauty and adornment on Shatrunjaya, wishing to bow his head to the "Yugadis" (Lord Adinath).
Praise for Shatrunjaya: The beauty of the Shatrunjaya lake and the surrounding trees are described, along with the pleasant sounds of koels and birds. The beauty of the pathway is also mentioned.
Joy of Meeting: The poet describes the immense joy upon reaching the Lord's abode and seeing the image, stating that no other pilgrimage is as significant.
Fulfillment: The poet feels his human birth is worthwhile, his vow as a Shravaka is fulfilled, and his arrival at Shatrunjaya and meeting the Lord today is blessed.
Devotion and Desire: He expresses his desire to bow like a child and asks for liberation (Mukti). He sings the sweet praises of the Lord and bows to Shri Yugadi again.
Visual Adoration: He wishes to behold Rishabhnath with his eyes, admiring his eyebrows and his divine qualities. He desires to embrace the Lord's arms and sing his praises.
Blessedness of Devotees: He states that all beings reside under the sun, but it is the unparalleled form of the Lord that truly matters. Blessed are those who go on pilgrimage, especially on the eighth day of Chaitra.
Remembrance of the Liberated: He bows to those who achieved liberation on Shatrunjaya, such as the five crore Pudarikas on the full moon of Chaitra, and the two crore others. He vows to always serve the Lord of Shatrunjaya.
Other Liberated Souls: He mentions the eight crore Yadavakumars who attained Siddhi on Shatrunjaya, the ten crore Dravidians, and the single gem-like Nanakallamalla, all of whom achieved liberation there. He also mentions the five Pandavas and twenty crore others who attained Siddhi, bowing to their lotus-like hands and paying respects to all of them.

Page 3: The Prayer (Vinti) - Stanzas 12-23

This section continues the prayer and devotional expressions:

Temple and Liberation: He sees the beautiful temple and wishes to alleviate the suffering of his sins. He praises the Lord Jin Anant, who established the Samavasaran (preaching assembly).
More Precious than Gems: He sings of the Lord's precious form, saying his eyes give him clarity. He reiterates his devotion to the Shatrunjaya peak.
Seeking Liberation: He mentions his mind was restless before and then started its journey. He asks the Lord for good destiny and liberation.
The Holy Site: He describes this as a holy and liberated land, with Yugadis being the "eyes of the world."
Blessed Birds: He praises the birds residing on Vimalgiri who bow to the Lord's feet every morning. Those who perform pilgrimage are purified daily.
Detachment from Worldly Pleasures: He urges his mind to detach from worldly pleasures, expressing dispassion (viraga) towards them and a resolve to consider his true place.
Lord's Might: He acknowledges the Lord's immense strength, capable of destroying karmic impurities that cannot be resisted by others. He calls him the "Lord of Shatrunjaya" and the "all-powerful God."
Benefits of Darshan: Seeing the Lord dispels misfortune and the cycle of birth and death. This vision transcends the cycle of birth and death and is a holy pilgrimage for all three worlds.
Lord as the Swan: Just as a swan resides in the mind-lake, the poet's mind is captivated by the Lord's virtues, finding delight on Shatrunjaya.
Joy and Devotion: Like peacocks dance seeing clouds and chakor birds rejoice at the moon, he is filled with joy at Shatrunjaya, offering his humble devotion.
Desire for Future Meetings: He blesses the hours, days, and years spent by those dwelling on Shatrunjaya. He requests to meet the Lord in every future life.
Attribution: The prayer is attributed to Shri Lakshmisagar, the crest jewel of the world, and his disciple Shri Anantahansa, who praised the Shatrunjaya mountain.
Lineage: The prayer was composed during the reign of Shri Ratnasekhar Suri, a sun of the sky (a great scholar). He is described as the Lord Rishabh Jinavar, the source of nectar and the seed of enlightenment.
Final Inscription: The prayer concludes with "Iti Shri Adinath Vinti Pooja," followed by "Pandit Sudhabhushan Shishyen Alekhio."

Page 4: Glossary of Difficult Words

This page provides a glossary for some of the less common words used in the "Adinath Vinti Pooja," aiding in understanding:

Alajau: To remove, to alleviate
Hel: Affection, eagerness
Atur: Eager, restless
Dhakkō: A push, a jolt
Kyarek: Sometime, perhaps
Bhramar: Bee
Kivāri'i: Gateway, threshold
Bhamuhḍi: Eyebrow
Uāraṇ: Offering, sacrifice (often in the sense of warding off evil)
Ovarj: To ward off (similar to Uaran)
Sāstu: Eternal, perpetual
Bhāmaṇah: (Possibly related to turning, revolving, or a specific ritual)
Ahūṭh: Eight
Sihar: Peak, summit
Sāshvat: Eternal
Bhāmaṇāṁ: (Plural of Bhāmaṇah)
Sāmīpya: Proximity
Kaḷḷarav: Collective sound, chatter
Vartuḷ/Maṇḍal: Circle
Tāharā/Tārā: Your
Sām: Strength, power
Kaḷivar: (Possibly a type of bird or sound)
Maṇḍali: Gathering, assembly
Tāhīra'i: At that time, then

Page 5-10: Discussion on "Pramanasaar"

This section is a separate but related discussion regarding the text "Pramanasaar" by Munishwar Suri, which was published in "Anusandhan-25" (September 2003).

Clarification on Publication: The article clarifies that "Pramanasaar" was edited and published by Dr. Nagen J. Shah in 1973 in the book "Jain Darshanik Prakaran Sangrah" (L.D. Series no. 41) from Ahmedabad. This information came to light recently in February.
Manuscript Variations: The manuscript used for the current "Anusandhan" article differs significantly from the one used for Dr. Nagen Shah's edition, leading to some textual variations.
Previous Communication: The author had previously sent letters to L.D.I.I. seeking more manuscripts and information about "Pramanasaar" before undertaking the editing, but received no response.
Comparative Analysis: The author has now obtained both editions and is presenting a comparative list of textual differences, including missing or damaged parts and variations in readings, to enhance the accuracy and completeness of the "Anusandhan" version.
Manuscript Sources: The "Anusandhan-25" edition was based on two manuscripts from Bhavnagar and Limbdi, while Dr. Nagen Shah's edition utilized a manuscript from the Shri Punyavijayji collection at L.D.
Author and Time Period of "Pramanasaar": According to the introduction by Dr. Nagen Shah, the author, Shri Munishwar Suri, was an Acharya of the Vṛddha Gachchha, and his period of activity was the latter half of the 15th century Vikram. His guru lineage included Shri Devacharya, Jinratnasuri, Tilaksuri, and Bhadreswar Suri.
Key Feature of Nagen Shah's Edition: Dr. Nagen Shah's edition is notable for its identification and referencing of the original sources of quotations within the text, wherever possible.
Detailed Textual Comparison: Pages 5-10 meticulously detail a table comparing the readings from "Anusandhan" ( अनु. ) with those from the Nagen Shah edited version ( न. पाठ ), noting specific line numbers, variations in words, and additions or omissions. This section includes a significant amount of scholarly textual analysis.
- Example of a missing passage: A substantial prose passage present in Dr. Shah's edition is noted as being omitted in the "Anusandhan" version.
- Specific word variations: Numerous instances of slight to significant word variations are listed, such as "namu" vs. "nami," "tarkatajñaḥ" vs. "tarkatajña," "anarthakāryākāri" vs. "anarthakāryākāri," etc.
- Additions: The comparison also highlights stanzas or parts of stanzas that are present in one edition but not the other. For example, a stanza is listed as an addition after the list of comparative readings.
Recommendation: The article concludes by recommending that those wishing to know more about the three sections of "Pramanasaar" and the original sources of its quotations should refer to the introduction of the edition compiled by Nagenbhai Shah.

In essence, the document presents a devotional prayer to Lord Adinath, followed by a scholarly discussion about the critical edition of another Jain philosophical work, "Pramanasaar," highlighting textual variations and historical context.