Introduction To Dr Charlottee - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text about Dr. Charlotte Krause, as presented in "Introduction to Dr Charlottee" by Sagarmal Jain:

The document is an introduction to the life and literary contributions of Dr. Charlotte Krause, a German scholar who made significant contributions to Indology, particularly Jainology. It highlights her dedication to studying Indian culture, philosophy, religion, and literature, emphasizing the prominent role of German scholars in this field during the 19th century.

Early Life and Academic Career:

Born in Germany on May 18, 1895, Charlotte Krause earned her Ph.D. from Leipzig University in 1920 at the young age of 25.
Her doctoral thesis was on 'Nāsaketarī Kathā: An Old Rājasthānī Tale,' which also included a grammar of Old Rajasthani.
She worked with Johannes Hertel, a renowned scholar of Indian narrative literature, and as a fellow and Assistant Professor of Indian Comparative Philology at Leipzig University.
During her academic tenure, she authored a critical and comparative article on a newly discovered version of the Jaina Pañcatantra in Old Gujarati, establishing herself as a notable Indologist and Jainologist.
She played a crucial role in establishing a Centre of Jaina Studies at the Institute of Indology in Leipzig University.

Journey to India and Conversion:

To gain firsthand knowledge of Jaina religion, culture, and literature, Dr. Krause received a two-year academic leave and visited India in 1925.
During her travels in March 1926, she toured Jaina centers and met with various Jaina Acāryas and scholars.
She was deeply impressed by the spiritual ideals and way of life of Jaina saints like Ācārya Vijayadharmasūriji, Muni Mangalavijayaji, and Muni Jayantavijayaji.
This experience led her to convert from her Christian faith to Jainism, adopting the name Subhadra Devi. She embraced the vows of non-violence and non-possession, becoming a true Śrāvaka (lay follower).
Her integration into the Jaina way of life was profound; she traveled with monks and nuns on foot and experienced Indian life, customs, and dialects firsthand.

Scholarly Works and Contributions:

The document then details several of Dr. Krause's significant essays and their content:

"The Kaleidoscope of Indian Wisdom": She distinguished between Science and Religion and classified Indian philosophical schools into Vedic and Non-Vedic, though her classification of Sankhya and Yoga as Vedic is noted as debatable, with the author suggesting a Śramanic origin for them. She also provided a detailed survey of Indian philosophies, including subsects of Vedanta.
"The Interpretation of Jaina Ethics": This essay contrasts modern Western and Indian approaches to life, highlighting the practical import of studying sacred Indian writings. She discussed the theoretical and practical aspects of Jaina ethics, including the Karma Theory, Jinakalpa, Sthavirakalpa, the vows and austerities for monks and householders, and the six essential duties (Āvaśyakas).
"The Heritage of Last Arhat": This essay focuses on fundamental Jain teachings, particularly emphasizing the concept of Anekāntavāda (relativity of truth) and its role in fostering religious harmony. She posited Jainism as an ideal religion due to its promotion of tranquility through non-violence and passionlessness, leading to individual and social well-being.
"The Jaina Canon and Early Indian Court Life": Dr. Krause argued that the Jaina Canon provides insights into early Indian court life, lamenting that this cultural material is often underutilized in historical narratives. She noted the established practice of Pardah among the Indian royalty prior to the arrival of Muslims.
"The Social Atmosphere of Present Jainism": In this essay, she proposed that Jainism is not merely birth-based but embraces anyone who adheres to its core principles like non-violence. She critically observed that Jainism, which historically opposed the Varna and caste system, had unfortunately become dominated by it. She also expressed concern over sectarian quarrels among Jainas (Śvetāmbaras and Digambaras), highlighting their detrimental impact. The author notes that the rigidity of the caste system in Jainism has since lessened.
"Pythagoras: The Vegetarian": This essay highlights that vegetarianism was not exclusive to Jainism, citing the Greek thinker Pythagoras as a contemporary proponent of the practice.
"Siddhasena Divākara and Vikramaditya": Dr. Krause established the contemporaneity of Siddhasena Divākara and Vikramaditya based on the Gunavacana-dvātrimśikā, suggesting it was composed in honor of Samudragupta. She placed Siddhasena Divākara in the fifth century A.D., a dating supported by the author. Her conclusion that Kṣapaṇaka, one of Vikramaditya's nine jewels, was Siddhasena Divākara is described as a masterpiece of her research, well-documented with numerous references.
"Jāvada of Māṇḍu": This essay details the life of a charitable individual from the 16th century, providing information on his wealth, philanthropic activities, and adherence to Jaina vows, illustrating the author's depth in Jaina history and the generosity of Jaina lay followers.
Biographies and Sayings of Vijayadharma Sūri: Dr. Krause wrote about her teacher and spiritual guide, Vijayadharma Sūri, highlighting his popularity, scholarly work, and contributions to promoting Jainology in the West and reforming monastic customs. She also compiled his inspiring sayings.
Hindi and Gujarati Articles: The book includes Hindi articles like "Jaina Sāhitya aura Mahākāla Mandira" (discussing literary evidence for the Mahākāla temple in Ujjain) and the Hindi version of "Social Atmosphere of Present Jainism." The Gujarati section features articles on hymnical literature, demonstrating her linguistic skills and scholarly insight.
"Ancient Jaina Hymns" and "Nāsaketari Katha": These works involved editing important hymns with detailed annotations and variants.

Later Life and Reflections on the Jaina Community:

The author, Sagarmal Jain, recounts his personal interactions with Dr. Krause, first in Shajapur and later in Gwalior.
He notes that in her old age, Dr. Krause returned to Christianity and lived in a Roman Catholic Church campus in Gwalior.
The author expresses deep regret that the Jaina community failed to provide adequate recognition and support to Dr. Krause, which he believes led to her disillusionment and eventual return to her original faith. He attributes this to the indifference of the Jaina community towards scholars, especially foreign ones.
He laments that her sacrifices – leaving her home, family, nationality, and even her religion – were not adequately appreciated, and she was denied research opportunities after her retirement.
He suggests that her critical observations in some later publications might have contributed to the Jaina community's lack of appreciation, although her earlier works were highly regarded in scholarly circles.

Publication and Conclusion:

The volume being introduced is a compilation of fifteen of Dr. Krause's articles and edited works in English, Hindi, and Gujarati, published for the first time by Pārśvanātha Vidyāpīṭha through the efforts of Shri Hazarimullji Banthia.
The author expresses hope that this publication will be beneficial for researchers in Indology, particularly Jainology, and for enlightened individuals. He thanks Dr. Shriprakash Pandey for editing the work and providing necessary resources.

In essence, the document is a tribute to Dr. Charlotte Krause, celebrating her scholarly achievements in Indology and Jainology while also offering a poignant critique of the Jaina community's perceived failure to honor and support such a dedicated scholar and convert, leading to a melancholic conclusion to her life's spiritual journey.