Geet Vitrag Prabandh

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Geet Vitrag Prabandh" by Panditacharya, edited by Dr. A. N. Upadhye, published by Bharatiya Jnanpith:

Book Title: Geet Vitrag Prabandh (गीतवीतरागप्रबन्धः) Author: Panditacharya (श्री-पण्डिताचार्य) Editor: Dr. A. N. Upadhye (डॉ. आ. ने. उपाध्ये) Publisher: Bharatiya Jnanpith (भारतीय ज्ञानपीठ)

Overall Summary:

The "Geet Vitrag Prabandh" is a significant Jain literary work composed in Sanskrit, detailing the lives and spiritual journeys of various past lives of the first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha (also known as Vrishabhanatha). The text is structured as a series of "Prabandhas" (narratives or episodes), each focusing on a specific incarnation or significant event in the lineage leading up to Rishabhanatha. The work is noted for its poetic style, often drawing inspiration from Jayadeva's "Geeta Govinda," and its adherence to Jain philosophical concepts.

Key Aspects and Content:

1. Author and Context:

   • The author, Panditacharya, is identified as Abhinava Carukirti Panditacharya, a Bhattarka from Shravana Belgola, likely living around 1400 AD.
   • The work was composed at Shravana Belgola, a significant Jain pilgrimage site.
   • The editor, Dr. A. N. Upadhye, is a distinguished scholar of Jainology and Prakrits, responsible for critically editing and bringing this valuable text to light. His extensive introduction provides detailed information about the manuscript material, the author's life and times, the source texts, and the metrical and literary aspects of the poem.

2. Thematic Structure:

   • The "Geet Vitrag Prabandh" traces the celestial and terrestrial existences of Rishabhanatha through various lives, demonstrating the Jain concept of jati-smarana (remembrance of past lives) and the efficacy of karma.
   • Each Prabandha usually begins with some verses in metrical meters, followed by an "Ashtaka" (a stanza of eight verses), and sometimes concludes with further verses.
   • The Prabandhas cover a wide spectrum of lives, including kings, celestial beings, and individuals in various states of spiritual development.

3. Content Overview of the Prabandhas:

   • Prabandha 1-11: Detail earlier lives of Rishabhanatha, starting with Mahabala (a king enlightened by his minister Svayambuddha), followed by lives as Lalitanga, Vajrajangha and Shrimati, Arya, Sridhara, Suvidhi, Vajranabhi, and Acyutendra. These narratives often involve royal duties, personal relationships, spiritual insights, and eventual rebirths.
   • Prabandha 12-14: Describe celestial existences in heavens, culminating in the life of Vajranabhi and his eventual birth in Sarvarthasiddhi (a higher celestial realm).
   • Prabandha 15-17: Focus on the human birth of Marudevī (Rishabhanatha's mother), her auspicious dreams (the Shodasha Swapna), and the events surrounding Rishabhanatha's conception and birth, including the divine coronation (Janmabhisheka) on Mount Meru.
   • Prabandha 18-21: Depict Rishabhanatha's divine physical form (Paramoudarika Divyadeha), his virtuous upbringing, the awakening of his vairagya (renunciation) triggered by the impermanence of life, his ascetic practices (tapasyā), and the establishment of his divine preaching hall (Samavasarana).
   • Prabandha 22-24: Detail the magnificent Samavasarana, its various aspects like the platform (Vedika), the grounds (Bhoomi), and the eight auspicious symbols (Ashta Mahapratihaaryas).
   • Prabandha 25: Culminates with Rishabhanatha's attainment of Moksha (liberation) on Mount Kailasa and his final glorification by Indra and other deities. The colophon also provides biographical details about the author and his lineage.

4. Literary and Metrical Aspects:

   • The Geet Vitrag Prabandh is admired for its poetic language and adherence to metrical patterns, often influenced by Jayadeva's "Geeta Govinda."
   • It uses a variety of Sanskrit meters (vrittas), with Upajati being a frequently used meter.
   • The "Ashtakas" are composed in a musical style, with indications of "Ragas" (melodies).
   • The editor notes the challenges in fully understanding the metrical patterns and Ragas due to the lack of a Sanskrit commentary.

5. Source and Influences:

   • The primary source for the narrative content is identified as Jinasena's Adipurana, a foundational text in Jain literature. The editor meticulously cross-references sections of the "Geet Vitrag Prabandh" with the "Adipurana."
   • The poetic and musical structure is heavily influenced by Jayadeva's Geeta Govinda, with similarities in the number of Prabandhas and the general composition style.

6. Significance:

   • The book is a valuable addition to the Manikchandra D. Jaina Granthamala, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of Jain literary heritage.
   • It offers insights into Jain cosmology, the concept of Tirthankaras, the cycle of birth and rebirth, and the path to liberation.
   • The detailed introduction by Dr. Upadhye makes the work accessible and provides crucial scholarly context.

In essence, "Geet Vitrag Prabandh" is a devotional and poetic narrative that expounds upon the illustrious lives of the first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha, through a series of births, underscoring the Jain principles of karma, renunciation, and spiritual progression towards ultimate liberation. The meticulous editing by Dr. Upadhye ensures its scholarly value and accessibility for researchers and enthusiasts of Jain literature.