Be Bhas

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Be Bhas" based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Be Bhas (बे भास) Author(s): Muni Jinsenvijay (मुनि जिनसेनविजय) Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan

Introduction (Page 1): The text begins with Muni Jinsenvijay recounting a visit to Limbdi. During his travels, he discovered a prakirna (miscellaneous) manuscript in a gyanbhandar (knowledge repository). This manuscript contained the Bhas (songs/odes) of Gautamganadhar and Sudharmaswamigangadhar. The text notes that neither of the original authors is explicitly named in the manuscript. However, it is believed to be a relatively recent but still ancient work (arvachin, meaning not very ancient, but ancient nonetheless).

Gautamganadhar's Bhas (Page 1): This section is a devotional song praising Gautamganadhar, the chief disciple of Lord Mahavir. It highlights his spiritual attributes and the reverence shown to him.

• Location: The song begins by mentioning Rajagriha and the Gunashil Chaitya, implying a setting of spiritual significance.
• Spiritual Attributes: Gautamganadhar is described as a savai guru (superior guru) whose arrival helps mitigate severe karmas. He is likened to the moon amongst stars, a metaphor for his eminence.
• Discipline and Vows: He is praised for controlling his five senses and adhering to the five aachars (conducts/practices). He is also said to bear the weight of the five great vows (panch mahavrat) while maintaining mental and physical control (sumati-guptidhari).
• Austere Practices: He is depicted as maintaining the vow of brahma (celibacy/chastity) in nine ways (navvadhi brahm) and abandoning the four kashayas (passions: anger, pride, deceit, greed).
• Powers and Influence: He is a possessor of twenty-eight types of spiritual powers (labdhi atthaavisno dhani) and creates eight types of prabhav (influence/auspicious manifestations).
• Devotional Rituals: The song describes devotional practices performed in his honor, such as adorning a saffron-colored robe (phetri peet patoladi), offering kumkum (vermilion) mixed with rice, and decorating a platform (ghat). Devotees are urged to perform luchhana (a devotional gesture of offering and praise) with flowers of silver and gold, to meditate on the Jain faith (jinshasan parbhavna), and to sound auspicious bells (mangaltur).

Sudharmaswamigangadhar's Bhas (Pages 1 & 2): This section is a devotional song celebrating Sudharmaswamigangadhar, another prominent disciple of Lord Mahavir.

• Location and Gathering: The song states that Sudharmaswamigangadhar arrived in the Rajagriha gardens in a state of samosaran (a divine assembly), surrounded by beings with qualities of knowledge and other virtues.
• Physical and Verbal Attributes: His body is described as golden and fair (kanchan gaur sharir), and his speech is pure like Ganga water (vani Ganga neer).
• Spiritual Teaching: He is said to consistently spread the three paths (trihu panth pasare sada), likely referring to the three jewels of Jainism (right faith, right knowledge, right conduct).
• Teachings and Principles:
  • He instructs in eleven types of knowledge and twelve types of upanga (secondary scriptures) and ten types of ruchin (inclinations/preferences). (Page 2, Line 3)
  • He imparts twofold instructions (dugvidh shiksha upadishai). (Page 2, Line 3)
  • He teaches the practice of vows with thirteen categories (ter kiya vrat), twelve types of grahis (lay vows), and eleven padimā (stages of spiritual discipline). (Page 2, Line 3)
  • He outlines twenty-one qualities of a layman (shravak gun ekvis bhed), and the characteristics of liberated souls (siddhana ji). (Page 2, Line 4)
  • He adheres to the ten types of auspicious practices (dashvidh kalpa) and abandons six types of inauspicious practices (achakalpa). (Page 2, Line 4)
  • He advises against thirty-two types of faults in salutation (vandan dosh battis) and abandoning four types of idle talk (vikatha char tajeji). (Page 2, Line 5)
• Devotional Rituals: Similar to Gautamganadhar's section, devotional rituals are described. These include offering kumkum mixed with a kacholi (a mixture, possibly for coloring), gahoongli (a red pigment), and colorful mixtures (rangmarol). Rice grains (akshat) and shrifal (coconut) are offered on top of these preparations. (Page 2, Lines 6-7)
• Royal and Divine Adoration: The queen of Magadha (maghadhadhipani nari) is described as adorned with sixteen types of adornments (sol saji shringar). She performs the luchhana gesture. (Page 2, Line 7)
• Spiritual Bliss: Devotees receive supreme bliss (paramanand) by looking at the guru's face, which is compared to the moon. This brings them joy, like a deer (chikori) seeing the moon. (Page 2, Line 8)
• Collective Devotion: Millions of celestial beings (survadhunaru) and human women (narvadhunaru) join together, creating a similar pair of devotion, singing praises to the master of the Jain tradition. (Page 2, Lines 9-10)

Overall Significance: "Be Bhas" serves as a devotional text that venerates the significant disciples of Lord Mahavir, Gautamganadhar and Sudharmaswamigangadhar. It highlights their spiritual attainments, the profound teachings they imparted, and the devotional practices performed in their honor. The text provides insights into the rituals and beliefs within the Jain tradition, emphasizing reverence for spiritual leaders and the pursuit of liberation through virtuous conduct and spiritual knowledge.