Dharmmangal Shishya Virachit Ajapur Nagarmandan Parshavanath Stotra - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the "Dharmmangal Shishya Virachit Ajapur Nagarmandan Parshavanath Stotra" in English, based on the provided text:

This text is a Gujarati poetic composition (stotra) praising Lord Parshvanath, the 23rd Tirthankara, specifically his idol enshrined in the city of Ajapur, which is identified with the present-day Jain pilgrimage site of Ajara in Saurashtra, near Diu. The stotra was composed in the 16th century and is divided into 37 verses. The concluding verses suggest it was written by a disciple of a guru named "Dharmmangal" who stayed in Una during the Chaturmas (a four-month monsoon period) in Samvat 1563. The manuscript itself was copied in Una in Samvat 1679 by a scholar named Bhaktikushal.

The Narrative and Key Elements:

The stotra recounts a significant event involving King Aranyketu, a descendant of the Suryavansha (Solar Dynasty). According to Jain tradition, this dynasty originated with Bharat Chakravarti, son of the first Tirthankara, Lord Rishabhadeva. King Aranyketu, whose name is also found as "Anaranya" in Jain Ramayanas, was the grandfather of Lord Rama.

The story unfolds as follows:

King Aranyketu's Illness: While on a military expedition of conquest (digvijaya), King Aranyketu reached the land of Gujarat. Due to his past karma, he was afflicted with 18 types of skin diseases (kushta) and other ailments. All remedies attempted by physicians and tantric priests proved futile.
Seeking a Cure at Shatrunjay: Following his minister's advice, the King undertook a pilgrimage to the holy mountain of Shatrunjay. Upon completing the pilgrimage and returning, his minister, with the intention of a quicker return to his kingdom, brought the King and his army to the port of Diu (referred to as "Divmandir" by the poet).
The Merchant Dhansar and the Discovery: At this time, a wealthy merchant named Dhansar from Konkan was caught in a severe sea storm. His ships were in peril. Through his devotion, he received divine guidance (devavani) that his ships had sunk and that a statue of Lord Parshvanath was within them. He was instructed to retrieve the statue and take it to Diu to present it to the King. He was told that the King, upon worshipping the idol and applying its ritual bathing water (snatrajal) to his body, would be cured.
The King's Cure and the Gods' Bargain: Dhansar followed the instructions. The King, upon applying the sacred water, was miraculously healed. That night, the deities of his diseases appeared to the King in a dream. They explained that they were supposed to remain in his body for another six months but were forced to leave due to the power of the Parshvanath idol. However, they requested that they be allowed to complete their allotted time in another form. They proposed to inhabit the body of a goat (aj) for the remaining six months, and in return, the King would have to care for the diseased goat during that period.
The Founding of Ajapur: The King agreed to this divine proposal. The next morning, he found a diseased goat in his courtyard, which he adopted and cared for diligently for six months. This act of nurturing the goat led to his name becoming "Ajpal" (meaning "keeper of the goat"). After this, King Ajpal founded the city of Ajapur at the place where he had kept the goat. He built a magnificent Jain temple there and consecrated the idol of Lord Parshvanath. He then returned to Ayodhya.
Historical Context: The poet mentions that this event occurred approximately 11 lakh 82 thousand years ago, according to the "Shatrunjay Kalpana" by Shrimad Bhadrabahuswami.

Ajapur/Ajara Today:

The text further elaborates on the connection between Ajapur and the present-day Ajara. Archaeological evidence, including Jain idols and architectural remnants, are frequently found at Ajara during excavation. A broken sandstone idol of Parshvanath, similar to the one present today, was also discovered there.

A mound in the village is known as "Ajaypalna Chora," where broken Jain sculptures are arranged and worshipped as deities by the local community. Some trees in the vicinity are believed to have medicinal properties and are revered as miraculous. There's a local superstition that excavating this mound would bring ill fortune, preventing villagers from digging there. It is also noted that there is no Jain population residing in the village today.

The Stotra's Significance:

The stotra is a lyrical ode that praises the beauty and divinity of the Parshvanath idol. It describes the idol as having a dark blue complexion and being the 23rd Tirthankara. The verses also mention the lineage of the Suryavansha, starting from Bharat, Aditya Yash, and the eventual emergence of Aranyketu. The narrative highlights the divine intervention and the power of faith in overcoming afflictions.

Concluding Verses:

The final verses affirm the sanctity of Ajara as a pilgrimage site, mentioning the miraculous healing power of the Lord and the blessings bestowed upon those who recite the stotra with devotion. It concludes with the lineage of the composer and the copier, placing the composition within a specific historical and spiritual context.