Jain Gitavali

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Gitavali" by Mulchand Sodhiya Gadakota, based on the provided pages:

Title: Jain Gitavali (Collection of Jain Songs) Author: Mulchand Sodhiya Gadakota Publisher: Mulchand Sodhiya Gadakota Purpose: The book is a compilation of devotional and auspicious songs (geets) meant to be sung by women on various significant occasions in Jain life. It aims to revive and preserve the tradition of singing pure and meaningful songs, replacing potentially vulgar or inappropriate ones that had become prevalent due to changing times and social influences.

Key Themes and Content:

• Revival of Tradition: The preface highlights a concern about the decline of traditional Jain devotional singing among women, with inappropriate songs replacing auspicious ones. The book is presented as a response to this issue, aiming to provide a collection of suitable songs.
• Occasion-Specific Songs: The "Gitavali" is organized to provide songs for specific life events and rituals. The index indicates songs for:
  • Weddings (Vivah)
  • Vandana (Salutations/Worship) and Mundan (Hair Clipping Ceremony)
  • Meal Times (Bhojan ke Samay)
  • Birth Anniversaries (Janmotsav)
  • General Devotional Singing (Harsamay Ganeke)
• Content of the Songs: The songs themselves are devotional and focus on Jain principles and stories. They emphasize:
  • Praise of Tirthankaras: Many songs are dedicated to praising the virtues and deeds of the Tirthankaras (e.g., Adinath, Neminath, Parshvanath, Mahavir).
  • Jain Philosophy: The lyrics touch upon core Jain concepts like karma, liberation (moksha), the cycle of birth and death (chaurasi lakh yonis), the importance of the Three Jewels (Samyak Darshan, Samyak Gyan, Samyak Charitra), the avoidance of vices (vyasan), and the practice of virtues like compassion (daya).
  • Moral and Ethical Guidance: The songs also contain teachings and advice for leading a virtuous life, especially for women. For example, there are songs about the importance of good conduct, avoiding bad company, and remembering God.
  • Stories from Jain Epics: Some songs likely narrate stories of important Jain figures and events, as indicated by references to names like Neminath, Shripal, Dravid, etc.
• Social Commentary (Implicit and Explicit):
  • Daughter Selling (Kanyavikray) and Dowry (Dahej): A significant portion of the later pages (starting from page 17) includes a strong social commentary condemning the practices of "daughter selling" (taking money for marriage) and the exploitative aspects of the dowry system. It criticizes those who prioritize wealth over their daughters' well-being and compares such individuals to cruel exploiters. The author urges the community leaders and influential people to curb these ill practices.
  • Importance of Purity in Singing: The preface and the editor's note (page 7-8) explicitly state the aim to replace "vulgar and indecent" songs with "auspicious and religious" ones, emphasizing the importance of maintaining purity in cultural practices.
• Editor's Role and Dedication:
  • Mulchand Sodhiya Gadakota compiled and edited the book. He expresses gratitude to those who contributed songs and specifically thanks Shriyut Shreshtivar Manikchandji J.P. and his daughter Vidushi Maganbaiji of Mumbai for their inspiration.
  • The editor also acknowledges potential errors and asks for suggestions for future revisions.
• Fair Use Declaration: The initial pages contain a declaration from "The Free Indological Collection (TFIC)" and "www.sanskritdocuments.org" stating that the book is provided under Fair Use guidelines for educational and research purposes, believing it to be in the public domain.

Overall Significance:

"Jain Gitavali" is a valuable resource for understanding the devotional and cultural practices of Jain women. It not only preserves a collection of traditional songs but also addresses social issues prevalent within the community, advocating for purity, morality, and the abandonment of harmful customs. The book serves as a guide for fostering spiritual and ethical development through music and song.