Chaturvinshati Jin Stotrani

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Chaturvinshati Jin Stotrani" by Vinaysagar, based on the provided pages:

Overall Subject:

The text is an introduction and commentary on the "Chaturvinshati Jin Stotrani" (Hymns to the Twenty-Four Jinas), a Jain devotional work. The primary focus is on the life events and significant locations associated with each of the 24 Tirthankaras (spiritual conquerors).

Key Aspects and Content:

• Purpose of Stotras (Hymns): The author emphasizes that the success of prayers lies in their ability to evoke emotion and express devotion. The Stotras of Jinas find fulfillment in describing their life events, auspicious moments (Kalyanakas), and associated places.
• Focus of This Work: Unlike many stotras that highlight the Tirthankaras' virtues, glory, and fame, this particular work by Devabhadrasuri (believed author) emphasizes descriptions of their life events and locations.
• The Manuscript:
  • A rare manuscript of this work is available in the collection of Muni Shri Punyavijayji at the Shri Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Bharatiya Sanskriti Vidyamandir.
  • It is cataloged under number 1378, accession number 7254(1).
  • The manuscript consists of 5 pages, measuring 30x11.4 cm, with 20 lines and 58 characters per page.
  • The writing date is Samvat 1550 (1493 CE).
  • The stotra begins with "Siri Ajitnāha Vaisakha" but the manuscript held by Muni Punyavijayji starts with Ajitnath, while a copy made 55 years prior to the current publication included the stotras for Rishabhnath as well.
  • The total number of verses (gathas) is 192.
• Attribution and Author Identification (Devabhadrasuri):
  • The text strongly suggests the author is Devabhadrasuri. This is based on the author's self-reference using the word "Devabhadrai" in the stotras for Rishabhnath and Vardhamana.
  • The author does not mention his guru lineage or sect.
  • The publication date of the manuscript (Samvat 1550) necessitates considering the identity of Devabhadrasuri prior to this date.
  • Multiple Devabhadrasuris are discussed: The text lists six prominent Jain scholars named Devabhadrasuri from different traditions and centuries:
    1. A disciple of Shri Abhaydeva Suri (commentator of Navangi), known as Gunachandragani before becoming Devabhadrasuri. His works include Viracharit, Kaharayanakosh (1158 CE), and Parshvanath Charitra (1165 CE). This is the most likely author of the Stotras.
    2. Founder of Chandragachchha, Brihadgachchha, Pippalak Branch (12th century CE). No works are known.
    3. Belonging to Chandragachchha, in the lineage of Shantisuri, Devabhadrasuri, Devanandsuri (13th century CE). No works are known.
    4. Disciple of Shri Chandrasuri of Maldharagachchha, known for his Sangrahani Vritti (12th century CE).
    5. Disciple of Vimalgani of Purnimapakshiya, commented on Darshan Shuddhi Prakaran (1174 CE).
    6. Disciple of Ajitsinghsuri of Rajgachchha, known for Shreyansanath Charitra (reign 1278-1298 CE).
  • The author believes Devabhadrasuri, the disciple of Abhaydeva Suri, is the most probable author of these stotras due to his known literary contributions in character and stotra composition. A verse from Shri Jinavallabhasuri's work is quoted that mentions Devabhadra as a disciple of Abhaydeva Suri.
• Devabhadrasuri's Known Works: The text lists several works attributed to Devabhadrasuri, including:
  • Mahavir Charitra (1139 CE)
  • Kathanakakosh (1158 CE)
  • Parshvanath Charitra (1168 CE)
  • Praman Prakash Samvegamanjari
  • Anantanath Stotra
  • Chaturvinshati Jin Stotrani (?)
  • Stambhatirtha Parshvanath Stotra
  • Parshvanath Dashbhav Stotra
  • Veetrag Stotra
  • The author believes the Stotras are likely his due to the similarity in genre (character and stotra compositions).
• Content of the Stotras:
  • The stotras describe 32 locations/details (sthānakas) for each of the 24 Tirthankaras.
  • Each Tirthankara is described in 8 verses (gathas).
  • The 32 details covered are: Tirthankara Name, Conception Place, Conception Date, Birthplace, Birth Date, Father's Name, Mother's Name, Body Color, Body Measurement, Emblem (Lanchhan), Childhood Period, Reign Period, Initiation and Austerities, Initiation Date, Initiation Place, Alms-giving Donor, Initiation Companions, Period as an Ascetic (Chhadmastha), Place of Knowledge, Date of Knowledge, Number of Ganadharas (chief disciples), Number of Monks, Number of Nuns, Guardian Deity (Shasan Dev), Guardian Goddess (Shasan Devi), Prominent Devotee, Number of Lives before Initiation, Lifespan, Number of Companions at Moksha, Inter-period (Antaral), Nirvana Date, and Nirvana Place.
  • A detailed table (koshtak yantra parishisht) for these 32 sthanakas is mentioned as being in the appendix.
• Sources and Dating:
  • The exact source for these 32 sthanakas is not mentioned, but it's believed to be a compilation from various Jain scriptures, Prakirnaka literature, and Tirthankara Charitras (Prathamanuyog).
  • The work is considered later than Shri Shailankacharya's (9th century CE) "Chauppanna-Mahapurusha-Chariyam" because it includes details like guardian deities, alms-giving donors, and prominent devotees, which are absent in Shailankacharya's work.
  • A point of divergence is noted in the lifespan of Shreyansanatha, where Shailankacharya and Devabhadrasuri mention 66,000 Sagaropamas less than the full lifespan, while Hemachandracharya's Trisashṭiśalākāpuruṣa Caritra mentions 66,26,000 (with a textual variation of 66,36,000 in Gujarati and Hindi translations).
  • Shri Jinavallabhasuri's Chaturvinshati Jin Stotrani only mentions six details. The number of details described in stotras gradually increased to 170 over time, as seen in Shri Somtilaksuri's "Saptatishattasthanaprakaranam" (1387 CE) which describes 170 details.
• Publication Context: The current publication aims to make this previously unpublished work accessible to readers.

The Stotras (Examples from the text):

The latter part of the provided text contains the actual stotras for Rishabhnath, Ajitnath, Sambhavnath, Abhinandannath, Sumatinath, Padmaprabha, Suparshvanath, Chandrapraha, Suvidhinath, Shitalnath, Shreyansanath, Vasupujya, Vimalnath, Anantnath, Dharmanath, Shantinath, Kunthunath, Arhanath, Mallinath, Munisuvratnath, Naminath, Neminath, Parshvanath, and Vardhamana. Each stotra follows the 8-verse format and details the life events and locations of the respective Tirthankara. The verses are in Prakrit.

Appendix (Page 21-22):

This section contains a table listing the 32 sthanakas for each of the 24 Tirthankaras, with details like their names, lifespans, body measurements, alms-giving donors, lifespan after initiation, and other biographical data. This serves as a reference guide to the details mentioned in the stotras.

In essence, the book "Chaturvinshati Jin Stotrani" by Vinaysagar is a scholarly presentation of a collection of devotional hymns attributed to Devabhadrasuri, focusing on the biographical and geographical details of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras, offering a comprehensive and structured devotional account.