Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 03

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 03," based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 03 Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai, Jayant Kothari (Editor of the Revised Edition) Publisher: Shri Mahavir Jain Vidyalay, Bombay (Mumbai) Edition: Second Revised Edition, July 1987 Content Focus: This volume is a detailed list and descriptive catalog of Jain poets and their works in the Gujarati language from the 17th century Vikram Samvat (covering roughly the 17th century CE). It continues the work of cataloging Jain poets, with Part 03 focusing on poets from the 17th century Vikram Samvat, specifically detailing their compositions.

Key Features and Content:

1. Comprehensive Listing of Poets: The book meticulously lists Jain poets, providing their names, along with details about their lineage, gurus, and the specific works attributed to them. The catalog is extensive, covering poets numbered from 620 onwards, indicating a continuation from previous volumes.
2. Detailed Information on Works: For each poet, the text lists their known works, often including:
   • Title of the Work: The name of the poem, treatise, or verse.
   • Genre: Whether it's a Ras (narrative poem), Stavan (hymn), Chaopai (quatrain), Gita (song), Sijaya (religious discourse), etc.
   • Number of Verses/Sections: Details like the number of verses (kadi), chapters, or sections.
   • Date of Composition (Saka/Samvat): Vikram Samvat dates are frequently provided, placing the works within specific historical periods.
   • Place of Composition: Some entries mention the location where the work was created.
   • Manuscript Details: Information about existing manuscripts, their location (e.g., Bhandars in Palitana, Jaipur, Bikaner, etc.), and catalog numbers are provided, indicating the scholarly basis of the work.
   • Publication Details: Some works mention if they have been published and in which collections.
3. Explanatory Notes and Indices:
   • Index of Symbolic Letters (Page 4-5): A crucial section explaining the abbreviations and symbolic letters used in the catalog to refer to various manuscript collections, authors, and specific notations. This helps in understanding the source material and the cataloging system.
   • Important Corrections (Page 6): A section dedicated to rectifying errors or providing clarifications on certain entries, highlighting the meticulousness of the research and editing process.
   • Table of Contents (Page 8-12): A detailed index of the poets covered in the volume, listing their names and the corresponding page numbers, making it easy to navigate the extensive list.
4. Historical and Literary Context: The text implicitly provides insights into the literary and religious landscape of 17th-century Gujarati Jainism. The sheer volume of poets and works suggests a vibrant period for Jain literature and devotional poetry.
5. Methodology: The catalog is based on extensive research into manuscripts preserved in various Jain collections (Bhandars). The details provided for each work, particularly the manuscript references, underscore the academic rigor of the compilation.
6. Revised Edition: The fact that this is a "Second Revised Edition" edited by Jayant Kothari indicates that Mohanlal Dalichand Desai's original work has been updated and expanded, likely incorporating new findings or corrections.

Summary of Content (Based on the scanned pages):

The scanned pages cover the initial sections of the book, including:

• Title Page and Publisher Information (Pages 1-3): Clearly states the title, authors, publisher, and details of the second revised edition (July 1987), including the print run (500 copies) and price (Rs. 75). It also lists the vendors for the book.
• Explanation of Symbols (Pages 4-5): This section is critical for understanding the references used throughout the catalog. It explains abbreviations for manuscript collections like "Amb. Sangrah," "Kamal Muni Bhandar," "Chuniji Bhandar," "Dasaada Bhandar," "Jaipur," "Bikaner Suchi," "Nahar," etc., and other symbolic notations.
• Important Corrections (Page 6): This page lists corrections and clarifications for specific entries, demonstrating the editorial process.
• Table of Contents (Pages 7-12): This is the most substantial part of the provided text, listing poets from No. 620 (Hemvijaygani) up to No. 748 (unknown poet). It provides a glimpse into the sheer number of Jain poets documented in this volume, covering a wide range of names and indicating the vastness of the Jain literary tradition in Gujarat during the 17th century. The entries often include brief biographical details or mentions of their gurus, and sometimes specific details about their works.
• Excerpts from Poet Entries (Pages 13-33): The latter part of the scanned pages provides sample entries for several poets, such as:
  • Hemvijaygani (No. 620): Mentioned as a respected poet whose name is cited in other works.
  • Rajhans (No. 621): Details his commentary on the Dashavaikalik Sutra.
  • Vard Pandita (No. 623): Notes potential ambiguity in his Jain affiliation based on terminology.
  • Meghraj (No. 624): A prolific poet with numerous works like "Sthananga Sutra Deepika," "Nal Damayanti Ras," "Sal Sangrah," "Sadhu Samachari," etc.
  • Harshvallabh (No. 625): Mentioned for his "Mayanareha Chaupai."
  • Kanaksundar (No. 626): Noted for works like "Kapuramanjari Ras" and "Gunadharam Kanakavati Prabandh."
  • Samayraj (No. 627): His "Dharma Manjari Chaturika" is listed.
  • Sumatikallal (No. 628): Mentioned for contributing to the commentary on the Sthananga Sutra.
  • Anandoday (No. 629): His "Vidyavilas Chaupai" is noted.
  • Lalvijay (No. 630): A poet with multiple works like "Mahavir Swami no 27 Bhav Stavan," "Jnata Dharma Ekonnis Adhyayan Sajjaya," etc.
  • Ratnavishal (No. 631): His "Ratnapal Pai" is listed.
  • Rishabhdas (No. 632): Described as a highly significant poet from Cambay (Khambhat), a Visha Oswal Vaniya, who followed Jain practices diligently. His extensive list of works includes "Rishabhdev no Ras," "Vrat Vichar Ras," "Sumitra Rajarshi Ras," "Sthulibhadra Ras," "Neminath Navarase," "Ajay Kumar Ras," "Kumarpal Ras," etc. The summary emphasizes his scholarly nature, adherence to Jainism, and his role as a predecessor to later Gujarati poets like Premanand, Shaml, and Akho.
  • The entries continue with many more poets, demonstrating the breadth of the compilation.

Overall Significance:

"Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 03" serves as an invaluable scholarly resource for researchers, historians, and students of Jain literature, Gujarati language, and medieval Indian cultural history. It preserves the legacy of numerous Jain poets and their literary contributions, which might otherwise be lost to time. The detailed cataloging of manuscripts also aids in textual criticism and further academic study. The revised edition by Jayant Kothari ensures the accuracy and accessibility of this important historical record.