Chaturharavali Chitrastava

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Chaturharavali Chitrastava" by Shilchandrasuri, based on the provided catalog link and the Gujarati text:

Book Title: Chaturharavali Chitrastava (चतुर्हारावली चित्रस्तवः) Author: Agamic Shri Jayatilakasuri (आगमिक श्री जयतिलकसूरिकृतो) Edited by: Samvat Vijayashilchandra Suri (सं. विजयशीलचन्द्रसूरिः) Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan (ZZ_Anusandhan)

Overview:

The "Chaturharavali Chitrastava" is a remarkable medieval Jain composition written in Sanskrit by the scholar Agamic Shri Jayatilakasuri. The work is characterized by its unique "Chitra Kavya" (picture poetry) style, where verses are arranged to form intricate visual patterns. The text is structured as four "haras" (garlands or sequences), each containing 14 verses.

Structure and Content:

Each "hara" is designed with a specific arrangement:

• 14 Verses per Hara: Each garland consists of 14 verses.
• 12 Gem Verses: The first 12 verses in each garland represent "gems" within the garland.
• 1 Pendant Verse: The 13th verse acts as a central "pendant" or "main gem" (madhyamani).
• 1 Dangling Verse: The 14th verse is like a "hanging gem" or "flower" (latakta ratnapushpa-samana).

Thematic Focus: 96 Tirthankaras:

The primary objective of the Chitrastava is to praise and enumerate the names of the 96 Tirthankaras recognized in the Jain tradition. The author skillfully weaves these names into the verses.

• Two Tirthankaras per Verse: Each of the first 12 verses in a garland incorporates the names of two Tirthankaras, thus covering 24 Tirthankaras per garland.

Distribution of Tirthankaras Across the Four Garlands:

The 96 Tirthankaras are systematically presented across the four garlands, categorized by time and location:

1. First Hara (Present Tirthankaras): This garland lists the 24 Tirthankaras from the current era, starting with Rishabhadeva (Bharat Kshetra) and ending with Mahavirswami.
2. Second Hara (Past Tirthankaras): This garland enumerates 24 Tirthankaras from the past, from Kevalgyani to Sampratijin.
3. Third Hara (Future Tirthankaras): This garland includes 24 Tirthankaras who are prophesied to appear in the future, from Padmanabha to Bhadrakrit.
4. Fourth Hara (Presently Living and Eternal Tirthankaras): This garland features 20 Tirthankaras who are currently residing and actively preaching in the Mahavideh Kshetra (such as Simandhar Swami) and 4 Tirthankaras who are eternally known in Jain tradition.

Verse Construction and Poetic Devices:

• Acrostic and Telestic Elements: The verses are crafted such that the first letters of the four lines (charanas) of a verse, when combined, form the name of one Tirthankara. Similarly, the last letters of the four lines can also form the name of another Tirthankara. This makes the work highly word-centric.
• Chanda (Meter): The poet favored the "Upajati" meter, which is well-suited for the intricate wordplay and phonetic arrangements required for the acrostic and telestic designs.
• Accommodating Name Lengths: To accommodate Tirthankara names with varying numbers of syllables, the poet ingeniously arranged extra syllables in subsequent verses or borrowed syllables from the next name to ensure the smooth flow and completeness of the poetic structure.

Unique Feature: Bandha Kavya (Picture Poetry):

The true uniqueness of the composition lies in the "Bandha Kavya" verses found at the end of each garland. These are highly skilled examples of:

• Padma Bandha (Lotus Pattern): Verses forming a lotus shape.
• Swastika Bandha (Swastika Pattern): Verses forming a swastika shape.
• Vajra Bandha (Thunderbolt Pattern): Verses forming a diamond or thunderbolt shape.
• Bandhukāsvastika Bandha: Another intricate geometric pattern.

The creation of these complex visual patterns using verses demonstrates the poet's immense erudition and mastery of the art of Bandha Kavya.

Author and Context:

• Author Identification: The author is identified as Shri Jayatilakasuri. His initiation name was likely Jayashekhar, and he received the title "Surishwar" later. His guru was Charitrapra bhaguru.
• "Agamic" Designation: The poet's self-description as "Agamic" suggests his affiliation with the Agamagachchha (a lineage of Jain monks).
• Dating: While the exact time of composition or the manuscript is not explicitly stated by the author, the script of the manuscript suggests it was likely written in the 16th century. This would place the poet's active period in the 16th century as well.
• Manuscript Source: The edition provided was prepared from a photostat copy of a manuscript housed in the "Muni Bhaktivijay-granthasangraha" at the Bhavanagar-Atmanand Jain Sabha (Collection No. 980/6). The original manuscript is described as being 6 pages long with beautiful and legible handwriting.
• Illustrations: The verses themselves are visually structured with decorative boxes created by the poet.
• Commentary: The commentary (tika) on the verses is also attributed to the same author, Jayatilakasuri.

Overall Significance:

The "Chaturharavali Chitrastava" is a significant work that showcases the creative and scholarly heights achieved by medieval Jain poets. It is a testament to their deep understanding of both scriptural knowledge (enumerating 96 Tirthankaras) and artistic expression (through complex picture poetry and acrostic/telestic designs). The text is not only a devotional work but also a literary and artistic masterpiece.