Bhavsthiti Stavan - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Bhavsthiti Stavan" in English:

Book Title: Bhavsthiti Stavan (A Hymn on the State of Existence) Author: Shri Laxmimurti Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan (As per the catalog link)

Overview:

The "Bhavsthiti Stavan" is a Jain devotional hymn composed by Shri Laxmimurti, a Jain monk and disciple of Acharya Shri Sakalharsh Suri. Based on historical records, Shri Laxmimurti is estimated to have been a poet of the first half of the 17th century Vikram Samvat. The hymn is primarily dedicated to the 16th Tirthankara, Shri Shantinath, and is also known by the name "Shantinath Stavan." This work is noted as being unpublished in the augmented second edition of "Jai.Gu.Ka." (Jain Gujarat Catalogue).

Content and Structure:

The "Bhavsthiti Stavan" consists of 70 verses (kadi). The author predominantly uses the Duha and Chopai meters. Specific verses employ other meters:

Verse 58 is in the Vastu meter.
Verse 69 is a Shloka in the Arya meter.
Verses 59 to 68 are sung as a lyrical piece in the Raga Mevadu-Dhanyasi, with the refrain "Suni suni swami ho mori vinati, tu prabhu param dayal" (Listen, listen, O Lord, my plea, You are the supremely compassionate Lord).

The core theme of the hymn revolves around the Bhavsthiti (state of existence or lifespan) of a soul as it transmigrates through the cycle of birth and death across different realms of existence. The hymn details the lifespan of souls in the four classes of existence:

Narakis (hell beings)
Tiryancha (animals/beasts)
Manushya (humans)
Devas (celestial beings)

The hymn begins with prayers and salutations to Tirthankara Shantinath. It then delves into the concept of an embodied soul wandering through countless rebirths, experiencing immense suffering due to its connection with anadi (beginningless) karma.

Detailed Breakdown of Bhavsthiti:

Souls in the Four Realms: The hymn explains that souls are trapped in the cycle of births and deaths, taking on various forms. The lifespan experienced in a particular birth is referred to as its "Bhavsthiti."
Microscopic and Macroscopic Souls: The text distinguishes between different types of souls, including subtle and gross, fully developed and undeveloped.
Earth Element Souls (Prithvikaya): It details the lifespans within various categories of earth-bodied souls, from one thousand years for the most basic to twenty-two thousand years for gross earth element beings residing in mountains and rocks.
Aquatic and Fire Element Souls: Lifespans are also described for water-bodied and fire-bodied beings.
Air Element Souls (Vayukaya): The duration of existence in air-bodied forms is mentioned.
Plant Kingdom Souls (Vanaspati): The hymn specifies the lifespans of various types of plant souls.
Four-Sensory and Five-Sensory Beings (Chaurindri and Panchindri): The durations are outlined for beings with four senses and those with five senses, including aquatic and terrestrial creatures.
Inanimate and Animate Beings: The concept of immovably bound (asanini) and movable (sanini) beings is discussed in relation to their lifespans.
Human Lifespan: The hymn touches upon human lifespans, often referencing them as a benchmark for the lifespans of animals like elephants and horses.
Hell Beings (Narakis): The text provides detailed information about the lifespans in the seven hells, measured in vast periods, with specific durations for each hell.
Celestial Beings (Devas): The hymn extensively describes the lifespans of various classes of celestial beings:
- Bhavanpati (Dwelling-dwelling celestial beings): Including subdivisions like Chamar, Balichakra, and their respective durations measured in Sagaras (oceans of time).
- Vyantar (Intermediate celestial beings): Covering different types and their lifespans.
- Jyotish (Luminous celestial beings): Describing the lifespans of celestial bodies like the Moon, Sun, planets, stars, and constellations, and their attendants.
- Vaimanika (Palace-dwelling celestial beings): This section is particularly detailed, outlining the lifespans across different Tiers (Kalpa), Graiveyak, and Anuttar celestial realms. These durations are also measured in Sagaras and are presented in ascending order of longevity.
Devi (Female Celestial Beings): The lifespans of female celestial beings in the upper realms are also described.

The Ultimate Plea:

The hymn culminates with a heartfelt plea to Lord Shantinath. The poet expresses the arduous journey of the soul through countless rebirths and different states of existence, all driven by the binding force of karma. The ultimate prayer is for Lord Shantinath to help the soul shed the bondage of all eight types of karmas and attain the supreme bliss of liberation (Moksha).

Authorship and Concluding Verses:

The concluding "Kalash" (a concluding verse often containing the author's name and dedication) explicitly mentions the author as Shri Laxmimurti, a disciple of Shri Sakalharsh Suri. The "Kalash" also pays homage to the lineage of Gurus, specifically mentioning Shri Somgangan, Shri Somvimal Suri, and the esteemed Acharya Shri Sakalharsh Suri.

Manuscript Information:

The hymn was prepared from a manuscript located at the L.D. Bharatiya Sanskriti Vidyamandir, Ahmedabad. The manuscript bears the accession number La.D.Bhet.Su. 41502 and consists of 2 folios. The second folio, after the completion of this hymn, contains two smaller works: "Nemianth Stavan" by Shivchand Kavi and "Simandhar Swami Lekh" by Jayavant Suri. The manuscript is described as legible, with uniformly written medium-sized letters, utilizing both 'padmatra' and 'ubhimatra' (types of vowel markings). The hymn starts with an auspicious mark (midhu) and the colophon identifies it as "Bhavsthiti Stavan."

In essence, the "Bhavsthiti Stavan" is a comprehensive and poetic exploration of the cyclical nature of existence in Jainism, detailing the lifespans across various realms, and concluding with a fervent plea for spiritual liberation through the grace of Lord Shantinath.