Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 08
Added to library: September 2, 2025

Summary
Certainly! Here's a summary of the Jain text "Jain Gurjar Kavio Part 08" based on the provided information:
Title: Jain Gurjar Kavio, Part 08 Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai (original compiler), Jayant Kothari (editor of the revised edition) Publisher: Shree Mahavira Jaina Vidyalaya, Mumbai Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/001037/1
Summary:
"Jain Gurjar Kavio, Part 08" is a significant scholarly work that serves as a crucial resource for understanding the rich literary and cultural heritage of Jainism in Gujarat during the medieval period. This volume, a revised and expanded second edition from 1997, is part of a larger series aiming to document Jain poets and their works.
Key Contents of Part 08:
- Alphabetical List of Deshis (Verse-lines of popular songs cited as exemplars in Medieval Gujarati Jain poems): This is the primary focus of this volume. It presents an extensive, alphabetically arranged index of "Deshis," which are the specific metrical patterns or verse structures used in medieval Gujarati Jain poetry. The text meticulously lists these Deshis, often providing the first line of the verse, the poet and work where it is found, the specific section (khand) and line number, the approximate date of composition (samvat), and sometimes the associated raga. This comprehensive index allows researchers to trace the usage and evolution of various poetic forms.
- Index of Great Deshis (Moti Deshiyo): This section likely includes larger or more complex Deshi structures, or perhaps Deshis that are more elaborate in their lyrical or narrative content.
- Index of Whole Deshis (Aakhi Deshiyo): This probably refers to Deshis that represent complete songs or stanzas.
- Addendum: Authors and Works Cited as Originals: This supplementary section lists the authors and their specific works that were referenced as the source or origin of the Deshis cited in the index. This is vital for academic verification and further research.
- Jain Kathanamkosh (Dictionary of the names of personages of Jain tales): This part of the volume is a dictionary that compiles the names of characters and significant figures from various Jain narratives and Puranas. It likely provides brief references to the sources where these characters are found, aiding in the study of Jain mythology and storytelling. The original compiler, Mohanlal Dalichand Desai, had intended to expand this section further, but this volume represents a limited but valuable contribution.
Significance and Context:
The original work, "Jain Gurjar Kavio," by Mohanlal Dalichand Desai, was a monumental undertaking to catalog and analyze medieval Gujarati Jain poetry. The first edition had already included substantial supplementary material, such as histories of the Gujarati language and lists of Jain lineages (Gacchpattavalis). Volumes 8 through 10 of the series focus on this valuable supplementary material.
This specific volume (Part 08) is particularly noted for its detailed index of Deshis, which the editor, Jayant Kothari, revised and enhanced. Kothari highlights the importance of the original work's inclusion of details like the verse-line number and date of composition for each Deshi, information that was omitted in a later publication by Dr. Niranjana Vora. Kothari points out the limitations of that later publication and emphasizes the value of retaining the original structural information.
The volume aims to provide a comprehensive and accurate resource for scholars, researchers, and anyone interested in the history of Jain literature, linguistics, and cultural practices in Gujarat. It is a testament to the meticulous research and preservation efforts of Jain scholars.