Char Laghu Stotra Kavyo

This document summarizes a collection of four short stotra-kavyas (devotional poetic hymns) titled "Char Laghu Stotra Kavyo," authored by Muni Suyashchandravijay and Sujaschandravijay. The work is published by ZZ_Anusandhan.

Key aspects of the collection:

• Content: The collection presents four stotras dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras.

  1. Shri Parshvanath Stotra: A hymn dedicated to Lord Parshvanath.
  2. Shri Sujaitrapurmandan Mahavirjin Stotra: A hymn dedicated to Lord Mahavir, specifically mentioning him as the "ornament of Sujaitrapur." The exact location of Sujaitrapur is currently unknown, and the authors express hope for clarification from experts.
  3. Sarvajin Sadharan Stotra: A general hymn dedicated to all Tirthankaras.
  4. Anandalhari Stotra: A unique hymn that is a samasyapurti (completion of a verse/problem) based on Adi Shankaracharya's "Soundaryalahari." Specifically, it uses the first and last lines of certain verses from "Soundaryalahari" and completes them with verses in praise of Jain Tirthankaras. This contribution is noted as a valuable addition to padpurti (verse completion) literature.

• Authorship of the Stotras: The individual stotras are attributed to Muni Ratnasinh. Each stotra concludes with a verse that mentions his name and the names of his guru and grand-guru.

• Genealogy and Historical Context:

  • The authors trace Muni Ratnasinh's lineage. He was a disciple of Dharmasingh Muni, who was a disciple of Sangharsgh Muni.
  • Sangharsgh Muni is identified as potentially being one of the four learned disciples of Acharya Hemvimalasuri (16th century). This Acharya Hemvimalasuri was imprisoned by Sultan Muzaffar Shah II for being welcomed with royal splendor by his follower Doshi Anandji. The Sultan demanded a ransom of 12,000 Taka. The four disciples, including Sangharsgh, impressed the Shah with their scholarship and managed to get the ransom waived and the amount returned to the community.
  • Dharmasingh Muni, Muni Ratnasinh's guru, composed the "Vikramaras" in 1580 Vikram Samvat.
  • Muni Ratnasinh's disciple was Shivavijayji, who is known for creating tirthmalas (pilgrimage garlands) and composing works like "Nemi Bhaktamar" and "Parshvakalyanmandir."
  • Limited biographical information is available for Muni Ratnasinh himself.

• Poetic Style and Meter:

  • The stotras are composed in Sanskrit.
  • The language is described as devotional, melodious, and clear.
  • The meters used are:
    • Vasantatilaka for the first two stotras.
    • Bhujangaprayat for the third stotra.
    • Shikharini for the fourth stotra.

• Sources of the Manuscripts:

  • The manuscript for Shri Parshvanath Stotra was obtained from Shri Kailassagar Suri Gyan Mandir, Koba.
  • Manuscripts for stotras 2 and 3 were obtained from Shri Hemchandracharya Gyan Mandir, Patan.
  • The manuscript for Anandalhari was obtained from the collection of the late Muni Ratnakarvijayji, Mahuva.

In essence, the "Char Laghu Stotra Kavyo" is a scholarly presentation of four devotional hymns composed by Muni Ratnasinh, highlighting their poetic beauty, adherence to classical meters, and providing a glimpse into the historical context of Jain monastic scholarly traditions and lineages. The Anandalhari stotra is particularly noted for its creative synthesis of Jain devotional themes with classical Sanskrit literature through the samasyapurti technique.