Chaturvinshati Jinastuti

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Chaturvinshati Jinastuti" by Shivlal Jesalpura, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Chaturvinshati Jinastuti (Praise of the Twenty-Four Jinas) Author: Kavi Lavanyasamaya (lived approximately from 1521 to 1589 CE) Editor: Shivlal Jesalpura Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay Suvarna Mahotsav Granth, Part 1 (012002) Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/230086/1

Overview of the Text and its Author:

"Chaturvinshati Jinastuti" is a significant work in medieval Jain Gujarati literature, authored by Kavi Lavanyasamaya, who is recognized as a prominent and talented poet. He is known to have composed around thirty works, many of which remain unpublished. His writings are characterized by deep scholarship and a profound understanding of social life. Lavanyasamaya possessed a natural gift for making any occasion, character, or emotion engaging and vibrant through the skillful use of figures of speech, analogies, and aphorisms.

Significance and Structure of "Chaturvinshati Jinastuti":

This particular work stands out in the medieval Gujarati literary landscape. While the number of continuous compositions in aksharmel vritta (metrical verses) from the ancient and medieval periods is limited, "Chaturvinshati Jinastuti" is notable for its structure. It comprises twenty-eight stanzas (kadís). The first twenty-seven stanzas are composed in the Malini meter, and the final stanza is in the Harigeet meter.

Content and Purpose:

As the title suggests, the "Chaturvinshati Jinastuti" is a devotional praise of the twenty-four Tirthankaras (Jinas) who are revered in Jainism. Each stanza is dedicated to portraying the unique personality and virtues of a specific Tirthankara, following them in their traditional sequence.

Key Themes and Poetic Qualities:

• Devotional Praise: The primary purpose of the text is to offer praise and veneration to the Jinas.
• Exemplary Lives: Each stanza highlights the distinct characteristics and spiritual achievements of the Tirthankaras, serving as an inspiration for devotees.
• Poetic Skill: Kavi Lavanyasamaya demonstrates excellent command over meter (chandaprabhutva). The stanzas are further enhanced by attractive use of varnasagaai (alliteration), yamak (rhyme), and pras (assonance).
• Spiritual Guidance: The verses often convey spiritual teachings and admonishments, encouraging the listener or reader towards righteous conduct and spiritual liberation. This is evident in phrases like "Do not waste your life in the cycle of birth and death" or "Do not burden yourself with sinful deeds."
• Metaphorical Language: The poet employs rich imagery and metaphors to describe the Jinas and their virtues, making the devotional content more impactful.
• Addressing the Devotee: The poet frequently addresses the "bhakta" (devotee) or "bhavik nar" (virtuous person), urging them towards spiritual practices and adherence to Jain principles.

Editorial Information and Manuscript History:

• Previous Edition: An earlier edition of this work was compiled by the late Shri Mohanlal Dalichand Desai based on a manuscript he obtained, and it was published in 'Jain Yug' (Vol. 1).
• Current Edition: The present edition has been re-edited using purer and older manuscripts discovered in the library of the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Bharatiya Sanskriti Mandir in Ahmedabad.
• Manuscript Dating: While the manuscripts do not explicitly state the year of writing, their condition and script suggest they were likely written around 1600 CE (Vikram Samvat).
• Manuscript Designation: The manuscript designated as No. 1253 is referred to as "A" and No. 4143 as "B." Manuscript "A" is considered older. The text includes notes on textual variations (patabhed) between these two manuscripts.

Content Snippets (Illustrative of the themes):

• The text describes the Jinas' physical beauty, their profound knowledge, their liberation from worldly attachments and suffering, and their role as guides to spiritual bliss.
• There are mentions of specific Tirthankaras and their unique attributes, though the provided excerpt doesn't detail all 24 in the summary.
• The verses offer encouragement to overcome negative traits like lust, anger, and greed, and to pursue virtues like knowledge, conduct, and faith.
• The final stanza, in Harigeet, seems to be a concluding dedication and a personal expression of devotion by the poet, Kavi Lavanyasamaya, acknowledging his teachers and the fruits of his spiritual practice.

In essence, "Chaturvinshati Jinastuti" is a meticulously crafted devotional poem that celebrates the spiritual eminence of the twenty-four Tirthankaras, offering both aesthetic pleasure and profound spiritual guidance to the Jain community. The editorial work by Shivlal Jesalpura makes this important literary piece accessible in a more refined form.