Aprashakit Aramsohakaha Ek Parichay - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Aprashakit Aramsohakaha Ek Parichay" by Dr. Prem Suman Jain, based on the provided PDF pages:

Title: Aprashakit Aramsohakaha Ek Parichay (An Introduction to the Unpublished Aramsohakaha) Author: Dr. Prem Suman Jain (Sukhadia University, Udaipur) Publisher: Z_Bhanvarlal_Nahta_Abhinandan_Granth_012041.pdf Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/210098/1

This article provides an introduction to an unpublished Jain story in Prakrit, titled "Aramsohakaha" (Story of Aramshobha). The story is significant for its extolling of the importance of Jinapuja (worship of Jain Tirthankaras). While Aramsohakaha exists in various Prakrit, Sanskrit, Gujarati, and Hindi versions, the original Prakrit text has remained unpublished until now.

Discovery and Manuscript:

The author discovered a manuscript of this unpublished Aramsohakaha in the library of the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Bharatiya Sanskriti Mandir, Ahmedabad, about 2-3 years prior to the writing of this article. This manuscript, written in Prakrit verses (Gathas), is currently believed to be the only available copy, though hints suggest other copies might exist in various libraries.

Manuscript Details:

Pages: 10 pages, written on both sides.
Verses (Gathas): A total of 320 Prakrit Gathas.
Absence of Inscriptions: The manuscript lacks any opening or closing inscriptions (Prashasti), making the author and scribe unknown. No other Jain text mentions an Aramsohakaha composed in Prakrit verses or its author. Therefore, the work is currently considered to be of unknown authorship.

Story Synopsis:

The story unfolds in the Kushartha country within Jambudvipa's Bharat Kshetra. Agnisharma, a Brahmin living in the village of Balasak, had a daughter named Vidyutprabha. When Vidyutprabha was eight years old, her mother passed away due to illness. The entire household work then fell upon Vidyutprabha. Exhausted from grazing cattle, doing household chores, and serving her father, she requested her father to remarry. However, the stepmother who arrived was lazy and wicked, leaving Vidyutprabha to handle all the work, both inside and outside the house, as before. Vidyutprabha endured this, considering it the fruit of her past karma.

One day, while grazing cattle, Vidyutprabha saved a deity in the form of a snake. Pleased, the serpent deity blessed her with a boon: a perpetually verdant grove (Aram) would always remain above her head, shielding her from the sun. This grove could shrink or grow as needed. The king of Patliputra, Jitrashatru, impressed by Vidyutprabha's courage and the miraculous grove, made her his chief queen. He affectionately called her Aramshobha, and their days passed happily.

The Step-Sister and the Plot:

Meanwhile, the Aramshobha's stepmother had a daughter. When this step-sister grew up, the stepmother desired King Jitrashatru to make her daughter the chief queen instead of Aramshobha. To achieve this, she invited the pregnant Aramshobha to her home, pushed her into a well after the birth of her son, and then sent her daughter to the king, presenting her as Aramshobha. The king, although he suspected the fake Aramshobha, was so delighted with the new son that he didn't investigate further.

Aramshobha's Reunion and Rediscovery:

When the real Aramshobha greatly desired to see her son, she remembered the serpent deity. By the deity's grace, she could visit her son at night but had to return before sunrise. One day, the king caught the real Aramshobha and prevented her from leaving. From that moment, the miraculous grove disappeared from her head. However, Aramshobha regained her position and honor. After hearing her past life's story from a monk, Aramshobha, along with the king, took vows of asceticism and attained a good destiny.

The Past Life Story:

The Aramshobha story, as narrated by a monk to Aramshobha, explains her past life. In Champanagari, a merchant named Kuldhar had eight daughters. Seven were married well, but the eighth, being devoid of merit, remained unmarried. A merchant named Nandan arrived from South India and married Kuldhar's eighth daughter. However, Nandan abandoned his wife on the way.

The abandoned daughter wandered to another city and began working for a merchant named Manibhadra. Manibhadra treated her like his own daughter. When Manibhadra built a Jinmandir (temple), Kuldhar's daughter devoutly worshipped the Jin idols. She took a vow of fasting four times and worshipped the Shasan Devi. As a result of her penance, the drying garden of Manibhadra became lush and green again.

The pleased merchant rewarded her with wealth. She used this wealth to adorn Jin idols with three umbrellas and crowns and donated a chariot to the temple. While engaging in such religious activities, she attained heaven after death. After enjoying heavenly pleasures, she was reborn as Vidyutprabha in her current life. Due to not performing religious deeds in her childhood in her past life, the grove above her head disappeared. However, by donating umbrellas to the Jin idols, she regained the splendor of the grove on her head. Through penance, she gained royal happiness and, forgiving her stepmother and stepsister, attained liberation.

Popularity and Versions:

The Aramshobha story has been very popular among Jain storytellers. Several versions exist in Prakrit, Sanskrit, and Gujarati.

Prakrit Versions:
- The earliest known mention is in the commentary by Shri Devachandrasuri on Acharya Shri Pradyumnasuri's "Mulshuddhiprakaran," composed around 1086 CE. This version uses both Prakrit prose and verses, with the story of Aramshobha becoming queen presented in prose and verse, and the past-life story in Gathas.
- The article is primarily focused on the unpublished Prakrit Gatha version (320 Gathas) by an unknown poet, dating back to the 12th century based on its language. This version emphasizes the importance of "Samyaktva" (right faith).
- Another Prakrit prose version is found in the commentary by Sanghatilak on Haribhadrasuri's "Samyaktvasaptati" (circa 1365 CE), which also includes some Prakrit and Sanskrit verses. This version was published in a textbook by Dr. Rajaram Jain.
Sanskrit Versions:
- Jineshursuri, Malayahangsagani, and Manikysundargani have written Aramsohakaha in Sanskrit. It is unknown if these versions are published, but manuscripts exist in various libraries.
Gujarati Versions:
- The story has also been written in Gujarati, with several "Aramshobharaas" and "Aramshobhachaupais" attributed to various authors from the 15th to 17th centuries.
Hindi Versions:
- While no independent Hindi version is noted, the story has been presented in a condensed form in Hindi, such as in Devendramuni Shastri's edited "Jain Katha," and as "Magical Grove" in the Amar Chitra Katha series.

Key Themes and Elements:

The article highlights several key elements and traditional patterns within the Aramshobha narrative:

Burden on an Orphaned Girl: The story begins with a young girl bearing household responsibilities.
Talking Snake Deity: A serpent deity speaks human language.
Boons for Courage: A grateful serpent deity grants boons for courageous acts.
Miraculous Grove: A protective grove appears in the form of an umbrella.
Royal Marriage: The virtuous poor girl marries the king.
Stepmother's Malice: The stepmother attempts to harm her stepdaughter.
Invisible Aid: The serpent deity provides unseen assistance.
Perilous Fall: The girl is pushed into a well but is protected.
Mother's Substitution: The mother is replaced with the step-sister after childbirth.
King's Recognition: The king later recognizes the true wife.
Time-Bound Visits: The deity sets a time limit for visits to the son.
Loss of Boon: The deity's boon is lost when a condition is broken.
Forgiveness: The heroine forgives her stepmother and stepsister.
Past Life Revelation: A monk reveals the past life.
Abandonment in the Forest: The husband abandons her.
Patronage: A religious father figure provides refuge.
Saving the Patron: The heroine's virtues save her benefactor from crisis.
Salvation through Jin Worship: Worship of Jin idols leads to salvation.
Karma's Repercussions: The story illustrates the chain of karma.
Correlation of Past and Present: Present-day events are linked to past life occurrences.

The author notes that while the first 13 elements are common to folklore, elements 14-20 can be found in any religion. The Aramshobha story is seen as a combination of two narratives.

Influence on Later Literature:

The core theme of Aramshobha, the suffering of an orphaned girl and the stepmother's selfishness, has been explored by many storytellers. The story shares similarities with the "Sugandh Dashami Katha" by Apabhramsa poet Udayachandra (circa 1150 CE), particularly in its latter part. Similar themes of stepmotherly neglect and attempts to elevate one's own daughter are found in global folklore, such as the French "Cinderella" and the German "Aschenputtel" (Ashputtel). The magical tree in Ashputtel serves a similar helpful role to Aramshobha's magical grove.

In conclusion, "Aprashakit Aramsohakaha Ek Parichay" introduces a significant but previously unpublished Jain narrative, highlighting its religious importance, its various retellings across languages, and its enduring thematic resonance with universal folklore.