JambuswamiCharitra

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "JambuswamiCharitra" by Hemchandracharya, as presented in the provided Gujarati text:

Book Title: JambuswamiCharitra Author: Hemchandracharya (original Sanskrit), translated and published by Kachrabhai Gopaldas Publisher: Kachrabhai Gopaldas Year of Publication: Samvat 1950 (1894 CE)

Overview:

The "JambuswamiCharitra" is a significant Jain text that chronicles the life and spiritual journey of Jambuswami, a prominent disciple of Lord Mahavir. This particular edition is a Gujarati translation of the original Sanskrit work by the renowned Jain scholar Hemchandracharya. The translation was undertaken and published by Kachrabhai Gopaldas of Ahmedabad, with the aim of making this important scripture accessible to a wider Gujarati-speaking audience.

Content Summary:

The text primarily focuses on the life of Jambuswami, tracing his past lives and his eventual attainment of omniscience. It is presented as a part of Hemchandracharya's larger work, the "Trishashthishalaka Purush Charitra" (Lives of the Sixty-three Great Persons), specifically as an appendix within the "Parishishtaparva," also known as "Sthaviravali."

The book is structured into several "Sarga" (chapters or sections), each detailing different aspects of the lives of various significant figures, with Jambuswami's narrative being a central thread. The preface highlights that this text contains the lives of those not covered in the main "Trishashthishalaka Purush Charitra."

Key Narratives and Sections:

The preface and subsequent pages outline the content of the thirteen Sargas within the Parishishtaparva, with the first four Sargas being dedicated to Jambuswami's story. The summary of each Sarga reveals the following:

• Sarga 1: Begins with auspicious invocations and blessings. It includes the stories of Prasannachandra Rajarshi and Valkalchiri. It also details the past lives of Jambudvipa's guardian deity, Anantadata, and the previous births of Rishabhadatta and Jinasena. The lineage leading to Jambuswami's birth is traced through Bhavadatta, Bhavadeva, and Sagardatta.
• Sarga 2: Narrates the birth of Jambukumar (Jambuswami in his youth) in the house of the merchant Rishabhadatta. It describes his marriage to eight princesses and the arrival of the thief Prabhav. This Sarga is rich with illustrative stories, including those of the Madhubindu bird, Kuberadatta, Maheswaradata, the farmer, the crow, the monkey, Angarakarak, Nupurpankita, the jackal, Vidyunmali, Shankhadhamaka, and the monkey in the pitch.
• Sarga 3: Continues with more illustrative tales, including those of Siddhi and Buddhi, the noble horse, the son of Mukhi, Selaka, the bird Mayasavasa, the three friends, Nagashri, and Lalitanga Kumar. It also describes the initiation (pravajya) of Jambukumar and Prabhav.
• Sarga 4: Details the visit of King Kanika with his family to pay respects to Shri Sudharmaswami in Champanagari. This section marks the completion of Jambuswami's life story.

The summary further elaborates on the content of the remaining Sargas (5-13) of the Parishishtaparva, which cover the lives of other important Jain monks and ascetics, such as:

• Prabhavaswami and Shrutaswami (Sarga 5)
• Shobhadraswami, Bhadrabahuswami's disciples, Ahankara's son, and King Nanda (Sarga 6)
• Katpak Pradhan (Sarga 7)
• Stulabhadra, Sambhutivijaya, Chanakya, Chandragupta, and Bindusara (Sarga 8)
• Bindusara, Ashoka, Kunala, Samprati Raja, and Bhadrabahu (Sarga 9)
• Arya Mahagiri, Arya Suhasta, and Stulabhadra (Sarga 10)
• Samprati Raja, Aryamahagiri, and Arya Suhasti (Sarga 11)
• Vajraswami (Sarga 12)
• Arakshit, Vajraswami's descendants (Sarga 13)

The Translation Process:

The preface details the publisher's (Kachrabhai Gopaldas) intention to publish a Gujarati translation of an existing work on Jambuswami's life by Upadhyaya Shri Padmasundargani. However, upon consultation, it was recommended that the "Jambuswami Charitra" from Hemchandracharya's "Parishishtaparva" was more comprehensive and engaging. This led to the decision to translate and publish the latter, with the support and encouragement of prominent Jain personalities from Bhavnagar. The publisher expresses gratitude to Shri Kunvarji for his significant role in finding and facilitating the translation.

Key Themes and Significance:

The "JambuswamiCharitra," as part of the larger work, serves to illustrate fundamental Jain principles through the lives of exemplary individuals. The extensive inclusion of various illustrative stories ("katha") within the text emphasizes:

• The consequences of actions (Karma): Many stories highlight how past actions shape present circumstances and future rebirths.
• The importance of renunciation (Vairagya): The lives of ascetics and kings who renounced worldly pleasures for spiritual liberation are central.
• The path to liberation (Moksha): The text guides readers through the spiritual journey, from worldly attachments to the ultimate attainment of omniscience.
• Moral and ethical teachings: The stories serve as parables, conveying lessons on dharma, right conduct, and the pitfalls of desire and attachment.
• The teachings of the Tirthankaras: The narrative often begins with or refers to the teachings of Lord Mahavir and other Tirthankaras.

This Gujarati edition aims to preserve and propagate these invaluable teachings for the spiritual upliftment of the Jain community. The publisher also notes that any errors in the translation are unintentional and invites feedback for future revisions.