Gujarat Ke Aetihasik Nirupan Me Adhunik Jain Sadhuo Ka Yogadan

This document, "Contribution of Modern Jain Sadhus in the Historical Narration of Gujarat," by Rasesh Jamindar, highlights the significant role Jain monks have played in documenting and preserving the history and culture of Gujarat.

The text begins by acknowledging the historical presence of two major spiritual traditions in India: the Brahmin and Shraman. Jainism is placed within the Shraman tradition. While Jain monks are traditionally bound by strict rules, including the principle of non-possession (aparigraha) which historically discouraged even possessing books, the evolution of religious and literary needs necessitated the acceptance of books. This led to the veneration of books, with Kartik Shukla Panchami celebrated as "Gyan Manjari" (Flower of Knowledge), and the establishment of libraries, known as "Gyanbhandar" (Treasuries of Knowledge) in Jain temples.

The importance of pilgrimage (tirthayatra) for spiritual purification and solace is also emphasized. Jain monks and lay followers (shravaks) have made substantial contributions to the preservation and reconstruction of pilgrimage sites. The reconstruction of temples and installation of new idols are driven by religious devotion rather than archaeological interest. Although older idols are not typically stored after the installation of new ones, the continuous preservation of religious traditions through temple renovation is commendable.

Beyond temple reconstruction, the text underscores the Jain community's critical role in collecting and preserving books. These libraries are not limited to Jain religious texts but also house rare and otherwise unavailable non-Jain works in manuscript form, making them valuable resources for scholars. This demonstrates the dedication and generosity of the Jain community. The establishment and maintenance of public libraries by Jain individuals are highlighted as a unique contribution to India, with the presence of at least one "Gyanbhandar" in almost every village with a Jain population. These repositories have been instrumental in providing historians with access to rare Jain and non-Jain ancient texts, thus revealing their historical significance.

The commitment to knowledge extends to book publishing. The Jain community recognized the importance of publishing to disseminate the knowledge of their monks to the general public. This publishing tradition, particularly for historical, critical, and poetic works, is presented as a boon not only to the Jain community but to society as a whole, especially in a context where publishers may be hesitant to print such genres. The success of these publishing endeavors is attributed to the synergy between the knowledge and inspiration of the monastic community and the financial support and generosity of the lay followers.

The nomadic lifestyle of Jain monks, traveling extensively except during the monsoon season, has been conducive to historical research. Their journeys expose them to diverse places, cultures, and historical sites, including architectural marvels, ancient relics, and places of historical importance. They also gain insights into various lifestyles and customs. The access to "Gyanbhandars" during their travels further aids their research and new discoveries. The stationary period during the monsoon allows for writing and creative work. This combination of travel, research, and dedicated writing, fueled by curiosity and interest in history, has resulted in Jain monks making significant contributions to the writing of numerous historical and cultural texts. These texts often provide detailed descriptions of pilgrimage sites and their significance, but their historical value goes beyond mere religious accounts. They include the study of inscriptions, geographical information, the evolution of place names, descriptions of contemporary political and social life, and even information about non-Jain pilgrimage sites, all of which are invaluable for historical research.

The text quotes Muni Shri Vidyavijayji, who asserts that travelogues are highly authentic sources for constructing national history. He argues that while coins, inscriptions, and epilogues can be difficult to interpret, travel narratives effectively overcome these challenges. This is why modern authors rely heavily on the travel accounts of Indian and foreign travelers when making judgments about the past.

The document then categorizes the contributions of pre-modern Jain monks to Gujarat's historiography into three areas:

1. Introduction to various pilgrimage sites.
2. Essays.
3. Biographies of great individuals.

While these works are primarily religious, they offer valuable insights into Gujarat's cultural history and sometimes even political history, occasionally serving to corroborate factual accounts of political events.

The core of the document shifts to the contributions of modern Jain monks. Their works are broadly classified into:

1. Introduction to Pilgrimage Sites (Travelogues): This constitutes a significant portion of their writings. These books primarily offer cultural insights, even when viewed from a historical perspective after setting aside the religious elements. They are generous in describing non-Jain pilgrimage sites alongside Jain ones. Their detailed accounts include the contemporary history of pilgrimage sites, the evolution of place names, geographical locations, transportation, and even the patrons (kings, ministers) involved in temple construction or renovation. The inclusion of scholars' opinions on debated topics, architectural details, temple blueprints, and translations of inscriptions demonstrates their keen interest in history. Several specific examples of such works and their authors are provided, including:

   • Works by Vijaydharmasuri, Vidyavijayji, and Jayantvijayji on various pilgrimage sites like Kutch, Abu, Shankheshwar, Nakoda, Bhorol, and others.
   • Works by Vishal Vijayji on sites like Ghogha, Bhidia, Mundasthal, Radhanpur, Arasan, Seria, Bhoyani, Pansar, and Sanderao.
   • Works by Jin Vijayji and Vidyavijayji on inscription collections related to Abu and Radhanpur.

2. Inscriptions: In addition to mentioning inscriptions in their travelogues, Jain monks have also authored independent works dedicated to them. Examples include collections of ancient Jain inscriptions by Jin Vijayji and Vidyavijayji.

3. Miscellaneous Literature: This category includes works on the biographies of influential figures, collections of "Ras" (a form of narrative poetry often set to music), and historical texts. Notable works mentioned are "Surishwar ane Samrat" (on Hir Vijay Surishwar and Emperor Akbar), historical "Ras" collections, and "Prachin Gujarat na Sanskritik Itihas ni Sadhan-Samagri" (Source Material for the Cultural History of Ancient Gujarat) by Jin Vijayji, which provides a synopsis of historical works from the 10th to the 19th century.

The document also mentions works like "Bharatiya Jain Shraman-Sanskriti ane Lekhan Kala" (Indian Jain Shraman Culture and Writing Art) by Punyavijayji, a treatise on Jain culture and writing. "Mahakshatrap Raja Rudradama" by Vijyendra Suri focuses on the political personality of King Rudradama. "Jain Parampara no Itihas" (History of Jain Tradition) in two parts by Darshan Vijayji, Gyan Vijayji, and Nyay Vijayji covers the history of Jain acharyas, monks, nuns, kings, merchants, scholars, patrons, various dynasties, literature, writing, pilgrimage sites, and events over 1200 years, providing insights into contemporary cultural currents.

In conclusion, the text asserts that through these numerous works, modern Jain monks have made a significant contribution to the historical narration of Gujarat. The author notes that many other Jain monks have also contributed through the discovery, editing, and publication of Sanskrit and Prakrit books, as well as various articles and essays. The exclusion of some monks is attributed to the scope of the article, which focuses solely on Gujarati-published books.

Finally, the text briefly touches upon the Jain tradition of libraries, mentioning their ancient Indian name "Bharti Bhandagar" or "Saraswati Bhandagar." These were housed in temples, educational institutions, monasteries, royal courts, and private residences. A reference is made to a manuscript of "Naishadhiya Charita" from the library of Chalukya Bisaldev used for commentary.

Overall, the document establishes that Jain monks, both ancient and modern, have played a crucial and often under-recognized role in preserving, documenting, and disseminating the rich history and culture of Gujarat through their extensive writings, meticulous research, and dedication to knowledge preservation.