Gajapantha Tirthkshetra Ka Ek Atiprachin Ullekh

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Gajapantha Tirthkshetra ka Ek Atiprachin Ullekh" by Darbarilal Kothiya, focusing on its content and arguments:

This article, appearing in "Anekaant," Year 7, Issues 7-8, discusses an ancient mention of the Gajapantha Tirthkshetra (sacred pilgrimage site). The author highlights the research of the renowned literary scholar Pandit Nathuram Premi.

Premi's Initial Findings and Subsequent Revision:

• Initially, Pandit Nathuram Premi had presented two old mentions of the Gajapantha region, which led him to revise his earlier view that considered Gajapantha to be a modern site.
• Based on his earlier research, Premi had not accepted any mention of Gajapantha predating Vikram Samvat (VS) 1746.
• However, the two new mentions he discovered were earlier than VS 1746.
  • One mention is attributed to Shrutsagar Suri, a highly learned scholar and author from the 16th century.
  • The second mention comes from Asaga Kavi, the author of "Shantinathcharit." Asaga Kavi is universally accepted to have lived around Shak Samvat 910, which corresponds to VS 1045, based on his work "Mahavircharit."
• Asaga Kavi mentions Gajapantha in the 7th canto, verse 98 of his "Shantinathcharit." Since "Shantinathcharit" was written after "Mahavircharit," this indicates that by around VS 1045 (11th century), Gajapantha was already famous as a Nirvana Kshetra (a place where enlightened beings attained liberation) and was considered to be near the city of Nashik.
• Based on these two mentions, Premi acknowledged the authenticity of Gajapantha and established it as a famous Siddha Kshetra (holy site of liberated souls) in the 11th century.

The Author's Own Discovery and Argument:

• The author of the article then shares their own significant discovery. While examining Pujyapada's "Nandishwar Bhakti" in the context of a discussion about "Ratnakarandashravakacharya" with Dr. Hiralalji Jain, they came across a verse in Pujyapada's "Nirvana Bhakti" (included in "Dashabhaktyadi Sangraha").
• This verse, which is quoted in the text, lists several Nirvana Kshetras, and importantly, it also includes "Gajapatha".
• The specific verse is:

  सह्याचले च हिमवत्यपि सुप्रतिष्ठे दण्डात्मके गजपथे पृथुसारयष्टौ । ये साधवो हतमलाः सुतिं प्रयाताः स्थानानि तानि जगति प्रथितान्यभूवन् ॥३०॥ (Sahyachale cha himavatyapi supratishthe dandatmake gajapathe pruthusarayashṭau | Ye sadhavo hatamalaḥ sutim prayataḥ sthanani tani jagati prathitanyabhūvan ||30||)

• The author argues that the phrase "gajapathe" in this verse clearly refers to Gajapanthigiri as a Nirvana Kshetra.
• They explain that "Gajapatha" is the Sanskrit term, while "Gajapantha" is used in Prakrit and Apabhramsha, and this latter form is also used in Hindi. Therefore, "Gajapatha" and "Gajapantha" are one and the same, referring to the same place.
• Crucially, Pujyapada is believed to have lived in the 5th and 6th centuries CE (or 5th and 6th centuries VS). Premi also accepts this timeframe for Pujyapada.
• This means that Gajapantha was already famous as a Nirvana Kshetra in the 6th century VS, which is approximately 500 years before Asaga Kavi's mention in the 11th century. This demonstrates its acceptance within the Digambara tradition much earlier than previously established by Premi's initial findings.

Confirmation of Pujyapada's Authorship:

• The article further supports its claim by referencing the understanding that Sanskrit Bhakti texts like "Nirvana Bhakti," "Siddha Bhakti," and "Nandishwar Bhakti" (among the ten) are attributed to Pujyapada, as stated in Prabhachandra's "Kriyakalap."
• The quote from the commentary of "Dashabhaktyadi Sangraha" states: "Sanskrutāḥ sarvabhaktayaḥ Pujyapādasvāmikṛtāḥ prākṛtāstu Kundakundāchāryakṛtāḥ." (All Sanskrit Bhaktis are by Pujyapada Swami, while Prakrit ones are by Kundakundaacharya.)
• Premi also accepts the authorship of these ten Bhaktis by Pujyapada, based on Prabhachandra's mention. He provides the reason that the "unimpeded flow and profound style" of these Sanskrit Bhaktis like Siddha Bhakti clearly indicate Pujyapada's authorship. There is also no reason to doubt Prabhachandra's statement.

Conclusion:

• The article concludes by reiterating that based on Pujyapada's clear mention of "Gajapatha" as a Nirvana Kshetra in the 6th century VS, it is evident that "Gajapantha" was a renowned Nirvana Kshetra even 500 years before Asaga Kavi's mention. This firmly establishes the very ancient nature and significance of the Gajapantha Tirthkshetra.