Bharatiya Sahitya Ko Jain Sahitya Ki Vishishta Den - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Bharatiya Sahitya ko Jain Sahitya ki Vishishta Den" by Agarchand Nahta, focusing on the unique contributions of Jain literature to Indian literature:

This article, authored by Agarchand Nahta, highlights the profound and distinct contributions of Jain literature to the broader spectrum of Indian literature. It begins by establishing Jainism as one of India's ancient religions, with its 24 Tirthankaras born, enlightened, and achieving salvation within India.

The Foundational Role of Tirthankaras:

The first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabhadeva, is credited with introducing significant advancements to Indian culture. He is considered an innovator who taught scriptures (Asi), writing (Mashi), agriculture, and various arts and sciences.
He taught script to his elder daughter, Brahmi, from whom the Brahmi script, India's ancient script, derives its name. He taught mathematics to his younger daughter, Sundari, fostering the development of mathematics.
The 72 arts for men and 64 for women are also attributed to Lord Rishabhadeva.
His eldest son, Bharata, conquered the six continents and became a Chakravarti Samrat, after whom India is named "Bharat."
Lord Rishabhadeva later attained Kevalgyan (omniscience) through asceticism and meditation, establishing the path of spiritual progress and liberation (moksha). While his direct teachings are not extant, the knowledge of all Kevalis is uniform, and thus, the teachings of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara, are seen as the continuation of Rishabhadeva's spiritual lineage. The ultimate source of all Jain literature is the teachings of these omniscient Tirthankaras.

Evolution of Jain Literature and its Canonical Texts:

Early Period (Pre-Mahavir): Jain tradition held knowledge of the "Purvas" (ancient texts), which were later divided into 14 Purvas. This knowledge persisted for centuries after Lord Mahavir but gradually declined and is now virtually lost.
Mahavir's Teachings: Lord Mahavir's sermons, delivered over 30 years, were compiled by his chief disciples into 12 Angas (Agamas). The 12th Anga, Drishtivada, a source of profound knowledge, is lost. The remaining 11 Angas were transmitted orally for about a thousand years, leading to considerable loss of content.
Scriptural Codification: In 180 CE (after Mahavir's Nirvana), Acharya Devardhigani Kshamashraman codified the orally transmitted Agamas in Vallabhi. The existing 11 Angas, their Upangas, and derived texts are considered the earliest Jain literature.
Sectarian Differences: The Digambara tradition believes these Angas have been lost, while the Shvetambara tradition considers the existing Agamas as valid and authoritative.

Development of Jain Literature Across Languages:

Prakrit: Lord Mahavir preached in Ardhamagadhi, a common language of his time, and this tradition was followed by Jain scholars for about 500 years, resulting in Jain literature primarily being in Prakrit.
Sanskrit: With the increasing influence of Sanskrit, Jain scholars began composing works in Sanskrit as well. The earliest known Sanskrit work is Acharya Umasvati's "Tattvartha Sutra" (2nd-3rd century CE), which systematically presents Jain principles. Both Shvetambara and Digambara traditions accept this text, and commentaries exist from both.
Apabhramsha and Vernacular Languages: Prakrit evolved into Apabhramsha, in which Jain scholars produced a vast amount of literature between the 8th and 17th centuries. Notable Jain poets in Apabhramsha include Svayambhu, Pushpadanta, and Dhanpal.
- From Apabhramsha emerged regional languages like Rajasthani, Gujarati, and Hindi. Jain scholars contributed extensively to these languages from the 13th century onwards.
- Jain literature is also found in Sindhi, Marathi, and Bengali. Millions of verses and prose works in Hindi, Rajasthani, and Gujarati, with the oldest compositions attributed to Jains, exist.
South Indian Languages: Jain literature is also abundant in Kannada and Tamil. Acharya Bhadrabahu's migration to South India due to famine led to the spread of Jainism and a rich literary output in these languages to facilitate local communication.

Key Contributions and Characteristics of Jain Literature:

Rich Storytelling Tradition: Jain literature extensively adopted and adapted folk tales and local music. Numerous poems (Stavan, Sajjhay, Dhal) were composed based on folk tunes, preserving the tunes and initial lines of forgotten folk songs.
- Jain scholars used folk tales as a medium for religious propagation, infusing them with Jain principles and ethical teachings to inspire moral conduct. This vast body of narrative literature significantly promoted virtue and morality in society.
Moral and Ethical Focus: A significant characteristic is the absence of literature that promotes vanity or stirs passions. This contributed to raising the moral standard of public life and enhancing India's cultural prestige.
Preservation of Literature: Jain communities played a crucial role in preserving literary works. They maintained extensive "Gyana Bhandars" (libraries) with numerous handwritten manuscripts, including ancient and pure copies of both Jain and non-Jain texts. Many non-Jain works found in these Bhandars are not available elsewhere, or their oldest and purest forms are preserved by Jains. Jain scholars also meticulously copied and maintained these texts, demonstrating a significant contribution to literature's survival and conservation.
Linguistic Significance: Jain literature is invaluable for linguistic studies. The constant movement of Jain monks across different regions and their engagement in writing led to the creation of works in various regional dialects. This provides unparalleled insights into the evolution of languages, changes in word forms, and linguistic history. The continuity of Jain creations across centuries offers a detailed linguistic record.
Subject Diversity (Vishay Vaividhya): Jain literature covers a wide range of subjects, making it useful not only for Jains but for the general public. Works exist in grammar, lexicography, prosody, rhetoric, poetics, medicine, astrology, mantra and tantra, mathematics, gemology, etc., in various languages. Many of these works have been praised and adopted by non-Jains. Jain scholars also wrote influential commentaries on non-Jain texts, making them more accessible and promoting their dissemination. Jain literature often quotes from Buddhist and Vedic texts, preserving references to works that are now lost.
Historical Importance: Jain literature is a vital source for understanding Indian history, culture, and folk life. Jain Agamas contain cultural details from 2500 years ago. Historical accounts, chronicles, travelogues, and historical songs mention various towns, rulers, and prominent individuals, offering insights into the antiquity and local history of places. Many rulers and historical figures whose names are not found in mainstream historical records are mentioned in Jain texts, aiding in their chronological placement.
Unique and High-Quality Works: The article highlights several unique Jain works that stand out in Indian and even world literature:
- Angavijja (Prakrit): An ancient text on physiognomy and prognostication, considered the sole surviving work on this subject, offering rich cultural material and insights into the knowledge of ancient Jain scholars.
- Vasudeva Hindi (Prakrit): A significant work that is believed to be a substantial portion of the lost "Brihatkatha," important for cultural studies.
- Rishibhāṣita (Prakrit): A compilation of sayings from sages of Jain, Buddhist, and Vedic traditions.
- Dhūrtākhyāna (Prakrit) by Haribhadrasuri: A unique collection of satirical tales.
- Dravya Pariksha by Thakkur Pheru: A crucial work on Indian numismatics, providing details on the weight, measure, and value of contemporary currencies. Thakkur Pheru also authored significant works on metallurgy, architecture, mathematics, astrology, and gemology.
- Parshvabhyudaya Kavya by Acharya Jinsen (Sanskrit): A unique poem that completes the verses of Kalidasa's Meghaduta with the life story of Lord Parshvanatha, showcasing exceptional poetic talent.
- Ashtalaksmi (Sanskrit): An extraordinary work by Mahopadhyaya Samaysundarji, presenting over a million meanings for the sentence "Raja no vadate saukhyam" (The king does not speak of happiness).
- Saptasandhana Mahakavya (Sanskrit): An 18th-century epic by Upadhyaya Meghavijaya that intertwines the biographies of five Tirthankaras (Rishabhadeva, Shantinatha, Neminatha, Parshvanatha, and Mahavir) with those of Rama and Krishna. This is a unique work in world literature due to its complexity and comprehensiveness.
- A work on animal and bird species: Containing detailed descriptions, the manuscript is housed in Baroda.
- Siri Bhalaya (Kannada): A unique work written in numerical notation, the full significance of which is still being explored.
- Ardh Kathānak by Banarasidas (Hindi): A significant autobiographical work from the 17th century, lauded for its engaging narrative.

The article concludes by emphasizing that Jain literature, in terms of both quantity and quality, has greatly enriched Indian literature. It argues that Jain literature is not merely religious but possesses universal utility, and its study can uncover new and significant information, benefiting Indian society immensely.