Apbhramsa Evam Hindi Jain Sahitya Me Shodh Ke Naye Kshetra - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Apbhramsa Evam Hindi Jain Sahitya Me Shodh Ke Naye Kshetra" by Kasturchand Kasliwal, focusing on the identified new research areas in Apabhramsa and Hindi Jain literature:

The book, "Apbhramsa Evam Hindi Jain Sahitya Me Shodh Ke Naye Kshetra" (New Research Areas in Apabhramsa and Hindi Jain Literature) by Kasturchand Kasliwal, highlights the significant and largely untapped potential for scholarly research in the rich literary traditions of Apabhramsa and Hindi Jain literature. The author emphasizes that despite the growing awareness of Apabhramsa literature, much remains to be explored.

Apabhramsa Literature: A Foundation for Hindi

Emergence and Early Recognition: The text notes that a vast body of Apabhramsa literature has come to light over the past 50 years. Key scholars like Pt. Nathuram Premi, Dr. Hiralal Jain, Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan, Muni Jinavijay Ji, Dr. A.N. Upadhye, and Dr. Parashuram Vaidya played crucial roles in its early discovery and dissemination.
Dr. Hazariprasad Dwivedi's Insight: A pivotal moment was the publication of a "Prashasti Sangrah" (Collection of Praises/Colophons) in 1950, compiled by Kasturchand Kasliwal himself, from the Amer Shastra Bhandar (Jaipur). This collection featured colophons from approximately 50 Apabhramsa texts. Dr. Hazariprasad Dwivedi, in his "Hindi Sahitya Ka Adikal" (The Early Period of Hindi Literature), recognized the immense value of these works. He stated that while some texts were known, many were new, including works by prominent poets like Svayambhu, Pushpadanta, Padmakirti, Veer, Nayanandi, Shridhar, Shrichand, Harishen, Amarkirti, Yashkirti, Dhanpal, Shrutkirti, and Manikkraj, as well as Raidhu. He observed that much of this literature dated from the 13th century onwards, with some compositions continuing until the 16th century. Dwivedi importantly noted that these texts, primarily from Jain libraries and authored by Jain poets, sing the glories of Jainism and preach a life based on its principles. However, he stressed that this does not diminish their importance, as they are "very helpful in studying the poetic forms of later Hindi literature."
Post-Dwivedi Momentum and Ongoing Research: Following Dwivedi's acknowledgment, scholarly attention shifted more towards Apabhramsa literature. Dr. Harivansh Kochhad's research on "Apabhramsa Sahitya" became a significant early historical work, heavily relying on the Amer Shastra Bhandar's collection. Numerous other scholars, including Dr. Ramsingh Tomar, Dr. Devendra Kumar Indore, Dr. Devendra Kumar Neemuch, Parmanand Shastri Delhi, Dr. Nemichand Shastri, Dr. Rajaram Jain, and Dr. Bhayani, dedicated their lives to bringing Apabhramsa works to light.
Published Works and the Vast Uncharted Territory: Several significant Apabhramsa works have been published, including "Mahapurana," "Jasahar Charu," and "Naykumar Charu" by Mahakavi Pushpadanta; "Paumachariu" by Svayambhu; "Jambusami Charu" by Veer; "Bhavishyaddatta Kahā" by Dhanpal; "Chhakkamopades" by Amarkirti; and various works by Mahakavi Raidhu. These are considered high-level compositions that offer insights into Indian and specifically Jain culture. However, the author stresses that these published works are merely a "drop in the ocean" ("aate mein namak ke barabar") compared to the total volume of Apabhramsa literature. A comprehensive survey of collections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi is still incomplete. Dr. Devendra Kumar Shastri has cataloged details of 150 Apabhramsa poets and 300 works, along with a thousand manuscripts.
Areas for Future Research in Apabhramsa: The pace of research in universities is slow, leaving a vast field for new scholars. Even the accessible works have not been fully studied, with much of the existing analysis based on colophons. Apabhramsa literature is predominantly narrative and character-driven, featuring more "Prakhand Kavya" (epic poems) than "Khand Kavya" (shorter poems). The period from the 8th to the 15th century saw the rise of great poets like Svayambhu, Pushpadanta, Veer, Nayanandi, Dhaval, Dhanpal, Gani Devsen, Yashkirti, and Raidhu, whose works are comparable to those in any other language. Yet, the full evaluation of most of these poets is yet to be done.
- Specific Research Avenues: Detailed biographies of poets, their poetic achievements, comparative studies with other poets, cultural and linguistic analyses of their works, and their significance in terms of rasa (aesthetic sentiment), alankara (figures of speech), and chhanda (meter) are all areas ripe for research.
- Undiscovered Treasures: The author specifically points out the need to survey libraries in Nagaur (Bhattarkiya Shastra Bhandar), Kuchaman, and other locations in Rajasthan, which are likely to contain more Apabhramsa works and open up further research avenues.
Dissemination and Academic Support: There is a pressing need for the publication and scholarly study of Apabhramsa literature, with each edited text offering potential for a doctoral dissertation. Given that Apabhramsa is considered the precursor to Hindi, research can be undertaken in university Prakrit, Sanskrit, and Hindi departments.

Hindi Jain Literature: A Rich but Overlooked Legacy

Early Contributions and the Bias Against Religious Literature: Jain scholars began writing in Hindi when it was still in its nascent stages and considered less prestigious than Sanskrit. This "discrimination" persisted until the time of Mahakavi Tulsidas and Banarasidas. Jain poets were at the forefront of early Hindi prose and poetic forms, particularly Rasa compositions. Works like "Jindattacharit" (c. 1354) and "Pradyumancharit" (c. 1411) are highlighted as pioneering works of their era. Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan recognized "Pradyumancharit" as the first epic poem in Braj Bhasha, thereby acknowledging the significance of Jain Hindi literature.
Exclusion from Mainstream History: Despite the prolific and continuous literary output by Jain poets in Hindi, their work was often excluded from mainstream Hindi literary history. A significant contributing factor was the gatekeeping by literary historians like Ramchandra Shukla, who dismissed Jain literature as purely religious and lacking literary merit, effectively barring it from national literary recognition.
The Opening of Jain Libraries and Rediscovery: The tide began to turn as Jain libraries became more accessible to scholars. Although early attempts were made by scholars like Mishrabandhu (in "Mishrabandhu Vinod") to introduce some Jain works, Jain scholars themselves were often unaware of the vastness of their own literary heritage. Pt. Nathuram Premi is credited with being the first to draw scholars' attention to Hindi Jain literature. Later works like Kamta Prasadji's "Hindi Jain Sahitya Ka Sankshipt Itihas" (1947) and Dr. Nemichand Shastri's "Hindi Jain Sahitya Parishilan" (1956) further illuminated this field.
Recognition and Publication Efforts: Rahul Sankrityayan's declaration of "Paumachariu" as the first Hindi epic poem was a significant step. However, despite numerous articles published in various journals, many Jain poetic works remained unpublished in properly edited forms. The "Sahitya Shodh Vibhag" (Literary Research Department) took a pioneering step by publishing "Pradyumancharit" in 1960 and "Jindattacharit" in 1966. "Pradyumancharit" was recognized as a significant pre-Surdas Braj Bhasha epic. Agrachand Nahata's extensive writings on Hindi Jain literature also played a vital role in attracting scholarly attention.
Institutional Support and Future Potential: The publication of works like "Mahakavi Daulatram Kasliwal: Vyaktitva Evam Krititva" by Shri Mahavir Kshetra provided scholars with a glimpse into the magnitude of Hindi Jain literature, leading to the acceptance of Jain Hindi literature and poets as subjects for PhD research. Works on poets like Banarasidas, Bhudaradas, Budhjan, Bhagvatidas, and Brahm Jindas have been approved by universities.
Shri Mahavir Granth Academy: The establishment of Shri Mahavir Granth Academy in Jaipur in 1977, with the ambitious goal of publishing the entire Hindi Jain literature in 20 volumes, marks a significant milestone. The academy aims to shed light on the personalities and works of approximately 500 Jain Hindi poets and provide detailed studies of 50 prominent ones.
Vastness and Diversity of Hindi Jain Literature: The author reiterates that the efforts made so far are still insufficient. Hindi Jain literature encompasses an incredible diversity of forms, including stotras (hymns), patha sangrah (collections of readings), katha (stories), raso, ras, puja (worship), mangal (auspicious songs), jaymal (garlands of victory), prashnottari (question-answer), mantra, astaka (eight-verse hymns), sara (essence), samuchchaya (compilations), varnan (descriptions), subhashita (wise sayings), chaupai, nisani, jakadi, vyahalo, badhava, vinti (pleas), patri, aarti, bol, charcha (discussion), vichar (thoughts), baat (talk), geet (songs), leela (divine play), charitra (biographies), chhanda (meters), chhappaya, bhavana (meditations), vinod (humor), kavya (poetry), natak (drama), prashasti, dhamal, chaudaliya, chaumasiya, baramasa (twelve-month songs), batoi, beli, hindolna, chundadi, sajjhay, barakhadi (alphabetical poems), bhakti (devotion), vandana (salutations), pachchisi (twenty-five verse poems), battisi (thirty-two verse poems), pachchasa (fifty verse poems), bavani (fifty-two verse poems), satsai (seven hundred verse poems), samayik, sahasranam (thousand names), namavali (list of names), guruvavali (lineage of gurus), stavan (praise), sambodhan (address), and modalo. Research into the origin, development, and expansion of these diverse literary forms is a fascinating area, with ample material available in Jain libraries.
Unsung Poets and Future Research: Hundreds of poets remain unknown to scholars, particularly from the 14th to the 19th centuries, with the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries being particularly prolific. Many popular and famous poets also hail from these periods. Each of these poets can be a subject of individual research. Prominent poets like Brahm Jindas, Yashodhar, Brahm Raymall, Bucharaj, Chhol, Thakursi, Banarasidas, Rupchand, Bhagotidas, Bhudaradas, Daulatram Kasliwal, and Dhyanataray are worthy of multi-faceted study. Just as numerous dissertations have been written on poets like Sur, Tulsidas, Mira, Jayasi, and Kabir, similar depth of research is possible for these Jain poets. As their works become accessible in universities, scholarly attention will undoubtedly follow.

Specific Suggested Research Topics:

The book lists a comprehensive set of 50 specific research topics, covering both Apabhramsa and Hindi Jain literature. These include:

Apabhramsa: Personality and works of Mahakavi Svayambhu, cultural studies of "Ritthnemichariu" and "Paumachariu," first and last Apabhramsa epics, prominent Apabhramsa poets, representative poets and their works, personality and works of Mahakavi Padmakirti, critical study of Harishen's "Dhamma Parikkha," cultural study of "Jambusami Charu" (rich in Veer and Shringara rasa), personality and works of Mahakavi Yashkirti, cultural study of Mahakavi Dhaval's "Harivanshpurana," historical Apabhramsa poetry ("Amarasen Charu"), contribution of Mahakavi Shrutkirti, Apabhramsa epic poems, Apabhramsa shorter poems, personality and works of Mahakavi Nayanandi, cultural study of Gani Devsen's "Sulochana Charita," and the contribution of Apabhramsa to the development of Hindi language.
Hindi Jain Literature: Jain Ras poetry of the early period of Hindi, personality and works of Kavi Rajsingh, first Braj Bhasha poet Sadharu and his "Pradyumancharit," linguistic study of Mahakavi Brahm Jindas's works, "Ramseeta Ras" by Brahm Jindas, Mahakavi Brahm Jindas as the "Shriromani" of Ras poetry, Hindi Jain poets of the 16th century, critical study of Jain allegorical poetry in Hindi, personality and works of Kavi Buchraj, origin and development of the 52-verse poems (Bavani) by Jain poets, personality and works of Kavi Thakursi, cultural study of Bhattarak Ratanakirti's works, personality and works of Jain saint Kumudchandra, "Nemirajul Sahitya" - a study, personality and works of Bhattarak Yashodhar, personality and works of Mahakavi Banarasidas, self-reflection in "Samaysar Natak," personality and works of Kavi Rupchand, Hindi prose writer Pandey Rajmall, Hindi prose creators of the 17th century, Banarasidas and his contemporaries, personality and works of Bhaiya Bhagvatidas, personality and works of Pandit Bhagotidas, personality and works of Kavi Anandghan, study of Mahakavi Samaysundar's works, cultural and philosophical study of "Parshvapurana," cultural analysis of Mahakavi Bhudaradas's verses, personality and works of Kavi Dhyanataray, "Barah Khadi" literature, Mahakavi Daulatram Kasliwal as a prose and poetry creator, cultural study of Daulatram Kasliwal's works, Mahakavi Daulatram's contribution to the development of Hindi prose, personality and works of Kishansingh, personality and works of Kavi Khushalachand Kala, cultural study of Jain Hindi Purana literature, personality and works of Kavi Nemichand, personality and works of Jodharaj Godika, cultural study of Jain poets' verses, contribution of Jain poets to the development of the Chhappaya meter, contribution of Jain poets to the development of "Chundadi" literature, personality and works of Pandit Jaichand Chhabra, personality and works of Pandit Sadhasukh Kasliwal, personality and works of Parasdas Nigotiya, study of Baktram Shah's works, devotional and philosophical Jain Puja literature, Pt. Daulatram - personality and works, Mahakavi Todarmal and his contemporaries, Kavi Bakhtawar Lal and his Hindi literature, and Pandey Jindas - personality and works.

In conclusion, the book serves as a call to action for scholars, highlighting the vast, rich, and often overlooked literary heritage in Apabhramsa and Hindi Jain literature, and providing a detailed roadmap for future research.