Gautamswami Stavana Kartta Vajraswami Vishe

This document, an excerpt from "Nirgranth Aetihasik Lekh Samucchay Part 1 and Part 2," critically examines the authorship of the Gautamswami Stavana and argues against the traditional attribution to the ancient Jain ascetic, Vajraswami.

Key Arguments and Findings:

• The Gautamswami Stavana: This ancient Sanskrit hymn, composed in the Shardulvikridita meter and praising the chief disciple of Lord Mahavir, Gautam Swami, is considered a significant work in Jain Sanskrit literature. However, the original text does not explicitly mention its author.

• Challenging the Traditional Attribution: The author, M.A. Dhaky, refutes the commonly held belief that the hymn was composed by the ancient Acharya "Arya Vaj" (or Vajraswami) of the first century CE.

• Chronological Discrepancies:

  • Umaswati's Tattvarthadhigama Sutra: The earliest known Jain work in Sanskrit is Umaswati's commentary on the Tattvarthadhigama Sutra. Estimates place Umaswati's time around 350-400 CE. While Umaswati quotes Sanskrit verses, this doesn't necessarily mean Jainism extensively used Sanskrit for original compositions much before him. The author argues that if the Gautamswami Stavana were from the first century CE, it would precede Umaswati, which seems unlikely given the evidence.
  • Comparison with Contemporary Buddhist Philosophers: Buddhist philosophers like Ashvaghosha, Matrcheta, and Nagarjuna, considered pioneers of Sanskrit writing in Buddhism, flourished in the latter half of the first century CE and the first half of the second century CE, during the Kushan Empire. In contrast, no prominent Jain Sanskrit author or work predates Umaswati or Siddhasena Divakara (a contemporary of Chandragupta II).
  • Stylistic Analysis: The Gautamswami Stavana's style, characterized by its specific structure, delicate expressions, elegant language, and rhythmic flow, is deemed too sophisticated for the early CE period. It is compared unfavorably with the works of later medieval Jain scholars like Siddhasena Divakara (5th century CE), Harila Vachaka (5th-6th century), Samantabhadra (6th-7th century), Manatungacharya (6th-7th century), Pujyapada Devanandi (625-680 CE), Haribhadra Suri, and Bhadrakirti Bappabhatisuri (8th century). Furthermore, its style aligns more closely with that of prominent medieval hymn writers like Jinvallabha Suri and Jinvatsuri from the time of Solanki ruler Kumarpal (12th century CE).
  • Contentual Evidence: The hymn refers to Gautam Swami's worship at the Ashtapada mountain, his journey to the temples of the 24 Jinas, and his iconic representation on a golden lotus. The idea of Gautam Swami's miraculous abilities and widespread worship, including the creation of his images, is believed to have emerged later, around the 9th century CE. The invocation of deities like Nageshwari and Yakshadhipa, along with guardian deities (Shasan Devatas), also points to a post-9th century origin for the hymn. The concept of deities with multiple arms is also not found before the mid-9th century.

• Dating the Stavana: Based on the stylistic and contentual analysis, the Gautamswami Stavana is most likely from the first half of the 11th century CE, possibly even the earlier part of the 11th century.

• Re-evaluating the Author: Vajraswami (Second)

  • If the Gautamswami Stavana is indeed the work of a Vajraswami, it's highly unlikely to be the ancient Arya Vaj. Instead, it points to a different, medieval Vajraswami.
  • The Shatrunjaya Legend: Several medieval texts (15th century onwards) mention a Vajraswami who consecrated an idol of Adinath on Mount Shatrunjaya. This consecration is associated with a merchant named Chavadi Shreshthi (or Javad Shreshthi) from Mahuva, whose father was Bhavad. This event is dated to Vikram Samvat 108 (108 CE).
  • Debunking the 108 CE Date: The author strongly refutes the 108 CE date for this consecration.
    • Absence of Evidence in Early Texts: The legend of Arya Vaj consecrating on Shatrunjaya is not mentioned in the Agamas or their commentaries up to the 6th century CE. It's also absent in later comprehensive biographies of Vajraswami, such as those by Bhadreshwara Suri (10th century), Hemachandra (12th century), and Prabhachandra Acharya (13th century). This suggests that earlier scholars, who had access to more ancient sources, were unaware of such a consecration by Arya Vaj.
    • First Consecration on Shatrunjaya: The first consecration on Shatrunjaya is attributed to Padaliptasuri the Second (7th century CE). There's no mention of an earlier temple or consecration by Bharat Chakravarti before the 10th century.
    • Medieval Personalities and Social Context: The names Chavadi Shreshthi and Bhavad appear to be medieval. The Praguaṭa caste (Porwad) also doesn't have evidence in Gujarat before the 10th-11th centuries. The existence of Mahuva in the first century CE is also uncertain. The association with the guardian deity Kapardi Yaksha also points to a medieval origin.
    • Mahmud Ghaznavi's Invasion: The legend mentioning Javad Shresthi being taken captive to Ghazni (Ghazna) by the "Pelechhas" (likely referring to Turkic invaders) strongly suggests an association with Mahmud Ghaznavi's invasions. If Javad Shresthi was taken captive around 1026 CE, then the consecration likely occurred shortly before or after that period.
    • Revised Date for Consecration: The Vikram Samvat 108 date is likely a corruption. Considering the Ghaznavi invasion, the consecration likely happened around Vikram Samvat 1080 (1024 CE) or possibly Vikram Samvat 1088 (1032 CE). The author notes that contemporary inscriptions and accounts support the idea that this consecration happened before the repairs by minister Vamabhatta in 1155-57 CE.

• Conclusion: If a Vajraswami was the author of the Gautamswami Stavana, it is highly probable that this Vajraswami is the second Vajraswami, the one associated with the Shatrunjaya consecration. The Gautamswami Stavana was likely composed by this medieval Vajraswami in the first half of the 11th century CE, possibly soon after the Shatrunjaya consecration around 1024 or 1032 CE. This aligns perfectly with the estimated dating of the Stavana itself.

The author speculates that this second Vajraswami might have belonged to the Nagendragachchha, as this gachchha was active in the Saurashtra region, including Mahuva and Shatrunjaya, during that period.

In essence, the article systematically dismantles the traditional attribution of the Gautamswami Stavana to the ancient Arya Vajraswami by presenting historical, stylistic, and content-based evidence that points to a later, medieval author of the same name, placing the hymn's composition in the 11th century CE.