Jain Krushna Sahitya - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Jain Krushna Sahitya" by Mahavir Kotiya:

This book, "Jain Krushna Sahitya," by Mahavir Kotiya, explores the portrayal of Krishna within Jain literature across various languages. It establishes Krishna as a significant figure in Indian culture, recognized by different religious traditions. While Vaishnavism considers Krishna as the Supreme God, other traditions, including Jainism, acknowledge him as a prominent hero and a great ruler.

Krishna in the Jain Tradition:

Shalaka Purusha Vasudeva: In Jainism, Krishna is recognized as a "Shalaka Purusha Vasudeva," one of the six Vasudevas. Shalaka Purushas are highly esteemed great men, ranking alongside Tirthankaras, Chakravartis, Baladevas, and Pratīvasudevas. Krishna is identified as the ninth (or last) Vasudeva.
Half-Chakravarti Ruler: Krishna is described as a powerful and valiant ruler, a "half-Chakravarti" (Ardha Chakravarti). He commanded dominion over South India from the Vaitadhya mountain to the ocean. He also exerted significant political influence in North India, establishing the Pandavas on the throne of Hastinapur after defeating his formidable rival, Jarasandha, and his allies, the Kauravas. He further consolidated his power by suppressing tyrannical rulers in North India and installing their successors, thereby increasing his influence and popularity.
Unifying Force: Through the study of Jain literature, it's revealed that Krishna was a great personality who united the fragmented political powers of India, achieving success in his endeavors.

Key Aspects of Jain Krishna Literature:

Relationship with Neminatha: A significant revelation from Jain Krishna literature is the familial relationship between Krishna and the religious leader Arishtanemi (Neminatha), who is revered as the 22nd Tirthankara in the Jain tradition. This connection highlights a crucial aspect of Krishna's personality in Jain texts: his strong inclination towards religion.
- Influence of Ahinsa: The influence of Neminatha's philosophy of ahinsa (non-violence) is evident in Krishna's life. He is depicted as opposing the violent Vedic rituals (yajna) and advocating for sacrifices without harming living beings. He emphasized the importance of actions (karma) over rituals.
- Devotion to Neminatha: Jain scriptures describe numerous instances where Krishna, upon Neminatha's arrival in Dwarka, would abandon all state affairs to visit him with his family and listen to his teachings. Many of Krishna's relatives, including his queens and sons, received initiation from Arhat Arishtanemi.
- Prominence in Jain Texts: This religious aspect of Krishna's personality makes him highly significant in Jain literature. Many works on Neminatha feature Krishna prominently, sometimes even overshadowing Neminatha himself. His life events are also detailed in independent works and in those related to characters like the Pandavas, Gajasukumala, and Pradyumna Kumara, indicating the attraction Jain writers had towards Krishna's narrative.
Literary Scope: Jain Krishna literature exists in numerous ancient and modern Indian languages, including Prakrit, Sanskrit, Apabhramsha, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Gujarati. This review specifically focuses on Prakrit, Sanskrit, and Apabhramsha literature, aiming to provide readers with new information and an appreciation for the vastness of Jain literature.

Detailed Breakdown of Jain Krishna Literature by Language:

Prakrit Jain Krishna Literature:
- Agama Texts: The foundational Jain scriptures (Agamas), compiled by Lord Mahavir's disciples, are the primary source. Important Agamas mentioning Krishna include:
  - Sthananga Sutra: Describes Krishna's eight principal queens.
  - Samavayang Sutra: Mentions Krishna as a Vasudeva, whose duty is to defeat the wicked Pratīvasudevas, like Jarasandha, who plague the populace.
  - Jnatr̥dharma-katha: Details Krishna's visit to Arishtanemi and the renunciation of Thavachaputra. It also mentions Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas, as Krishna's aunt.
  - Antakr̥ddaśā: Contains narratives of ascetics who achieved liberation, with various episodes of Krishna's story, including his reign in Dwarka, the story of his brother Gajasukumala, and the destruction of Dwarka and Krishna's death.
  - Praśnavyākaraṇa: Mentions Krishna's warfare and his union with Rukmini and Padmavati.
  - Nirayāvalikā (specifically Dṛṣṭidāśā): Describes Krishna as the king of Dwarka, visiting Arishtanemi on his elephant.
  - Uttarādhyayana Sutra: Recounts the event where Krishna arranged Arishtanemi's marriage, leading to Arishtanemi's renunciation upon hearing the piteous cries of animals gathered for the feast. It also suggests Krishna's birth in Soriyapura.
- Post-Agamic Prakrit Literature: This includes works like:
  - 'Harivamsachariya' by Vimalasuri (though not yet discovered).
  - 'Vasudevahiṇḍi' by Sanghadasa Gani and Dharmadasa Gani, focusing on Krishna's father Vasudeva and detailing Krishna's queens, Pradyumna's birth and abduction, and the origins of the Harivamsa lineage.
  - 'Cauppanna Mahāpurisa-chariyaṁ' by Shilacharya (Shilanka Suri), describing the 54 illustrious persons of Jainism.
  - 'Bhava-bhavana' by Maladhari Hemchandra Suri, depicting Krishna's life, Kansa's story, and Neminatha's life.
  - 'Kumārapāla-pratibodha' by Somaprabha Suri, containing stories, including those of Dwarka's destruction and Rukmini, to illustrate moral lessons.
  - 'Kaṇhachariyaṁ' by Devendrasuri, a comprehensive account of Krishna's life, including his birth, marriages, the story of Neminatha and Rajul, and his death.
Sanskrit Jain Krishna Literature: This literature spans from the first century CE.
- 'Harivamsa Purana' by Jinasena: A significant work in 12,000 verses, detailing the lineage of Tirthankara Neminatha. Krishna's life is extensively narrated from the 18th to the 63rd sargas.
- 'Mahapurana' (Adipurana and Uttarapurana) by Jinasena and Gunabhadra: Uttarapurana specifically includes narratives of Krishna's life.
- 'Dvisandhana' or 'Raghav-Pandaviya Mahakavya' by Dhananjaya: A unique epic where each verse has two meanings, one related to Rama's story and the other to Krishna's.
- 'Pradyumna Charita' by Mahasena: A biographical work focusing on Krishna's son Pradyumna.
- 'Trishashti Shalakapurusha Charita' by Hemachandra: A renowned work detailing the lives of the 63 great men in Jain tradition.
- 'Mahapurana' by Mallisena Suri: A concise account of the 63 Shalaka Purushas.
- Works by Bhattarak Sakalkirti: Two significant works are 'Uttarapurana' and 'Pradyumna Charita'.
- 'Pandavapurana' by Bhattarak Shubachandra: Influenced the Hindi version of the same name.
- Plays by Hastimalla: Notable works include 'Vikrantakaurava' and 'Subhadra'.
- Other Works: Various other compositions like 'Pandavacharita', 'Pandavapurana', 'Harivanshapurana', 'Pradyumnacharita', 'Neminirvana Kavya', 'Neminathapurana', and 'Neminathacharita' from the 12th to the 17th centuries are also mentioned.
Apabhramsha Jain Krishna Literature: Jain authors contributed significantly to Apabhramsha literature.
- 'Rithanemi Charita' by Svayambhu: An epic poem detailing Krishna's life, including his birth, childhood exploits, marriages, and the stories of Pradyumna and Shamba.
- 'Trishashti Mahapurusha Guna-alankara' by Pushpadanta: This epic narrates the lives of the 63 Shalaka Purushas, with the Harivamsa Purana narrative forming a significant part.
- 'Harivanshapurana' by Dhaval: Based on Jinasena's Sanskrit version, this work details Krishna's story.
- 'Sakalvidhi-nidan Kavya' by Nayanandi: Primarily focused on rituals, it includes episodes from the Mahabharata war.
- 'Pajjunnacharitu' by Simha: A biographical work on Krishna's son Pradyumna.
- 'Neminahachariu' by Lakhamadeva (Lakshmanadeva): A narrative of Neminatha, Krishna's cousin.
- Works by Yashakirti and Shrutakirti: 'Pandavapurana' and 'Harivanshapurana' are mentioned.
Hindi Jain Krishna Literature: This is a vast collection, predominantly in the prabandha-kavya (narrative poem) form, contrasting with the more lyrical style of non-Jain Hindi Krishna literature.
- Characterization of Krishna: In Hindi Jain Krishna literature, Krishna is portrayed not as a romantic figure associated with Radha and the Gopis, but as a mighty and powerful king, a Vasudeva who liberates the Earth from the burden of wicked beings. He is depicted as a detached individual and a distinguished Shalaka Purusha.
- Discoveries: Recent discoveries have brought to light about fifty handwritten books of Hindi Jain Krishna literature, many of which are considered beautiful from a poetic and linguistic perspective, especially those from the early period of Hindi literature.
- List of Works: The text provides a comprehensive list of Hindi Jain Krishna literary works, including their authors, approximate dates of composition, and locations where manuscripts are preserved. Notable among these are various Rasa (narrative poems) and Charita (biographical accounts) related to Neminatha, Krishna, Baladeva, Pradyumna, and the Pandavas.
- Translations and Commentary: The text also mentions numerous 20th-century prose translations and commentaries on these works, further highlighting the enduring relevance and study of Krishna's narrative within Jainism.

In essence, "Jain Krushna Sahitya" meticulously traces the evolution and breadth of Krishna's portrayal within Jain literary traditions, emphasizing his role as a powerful, righteous ruler and his profound connection to the spiritual teachings of Jainism, particularly through his relationship with Neminatha.