Kahavali Pratham Paricched Pratham Khand

This Jain text, "Kahavali Pratham Paricched Pratham Khand" by Kalyankirtivijay, is the first volume of a much larger work, the "Kahavali" of Acharya Bhadreswarsuri. Published in 2012 by the Kalikal Sarvagya Shri Hemchandracharya Navam Janmashatabdi Smruti Sanskar Shikshannidhi, Ahmedabad, this particular volume is the first part of the first chapter.

Key aspects of the text and its publication:

• Author and Text: The "Kahavali" itself was authored by Acharya Bhadreswarsuri and is written in Prakrit. It is a monumental narrative compilation that chronicles the lives of significant figures in Jainism, starting from the first Tirthankara, Rishabhadeva, and extending up to Acharya Haribhadra Suri. The text draws from various literary traditions and includes numerous illustrative stories alongside biographical accounts.
• Content: The Kahavali is described as a form of "Universal History" within the Jain tradition. It includes the biographies of the 24 Tirthankaras of the current era (Avasarpini), future Tirthankaras, Cakravartins (universal monarchs), Baladevas, Vasudevas, Naradas, and other important Jaina preceptors. The author's intention was to narrate the biographies of great men up to his own time, but the work remained unfinished. The text is noted for its simple and flowing style, using many Deshya (local) words and Prakrit grammatical forms.
• This Volume: This specific publication is the first section of the first chapter of the Kahavali. It covers the lives up to the Tirthankara Parshvanatha, ending with an incomplete story of Bandhudatta. The second section of the first chapter, dealing with Tirthankara Mahavira and Acharya Haribhadra Suri, is slated for future publication. The second chapter of the Kahavali is unfortunately not available, and its original manuscripts are lost.
• Editorial Efforts: The text has been meticulously edited and compiled from ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, following the guidance of Acharya Shri Vijayasheelchandra Surishwarji Maharaj. The editor, Muni Kalyankirtivijay, highlights the challenges of editing this text, particularly the corrupt and corruptible nature of the manuscripts, necessitating extensive comparative analysis with other ancient Jain texts like the Avasyakachurni, Vasudevahindi, Paumacariya, and Cauppannamahapurusacariya.
• Dating of Bhadresvara: Identifying the precise period of Acharya Bhadresvara, the author of the original Kahavali, has been a subject of scholarly debate. While the manuscript of the first chapter is dated V.S. 1497 (1440 A.D.), Bhadresvara himself is estimated to have lived between the 9th and 15th centuries A.D. The text's contents, language, and style suggest an antiquity that places it before the 12th century. The presence of Mahavira's life story and the mention of Haribhadra Suri (estimated 8th century A.D.) suggest Bhadresvara lived between the 9th and 15th centuries. Further research has placed him potentially between the 10th and 11th centuries, possibly as a disciple of Vadi Indradeva Suri. The presence of specific narrative details, like the story of Jamanli, and the linguistic analysis by scholars like Dr. Dahanki and Prof. Malvania, are cited to pinpoint the possible timeframe.
• Significance: The Kahavali is considered a significant narrative work as it is one of the earliest Jain texts to provide a comprehensive account of the lives of all 24 Tirthankaras, Cakravartins, and other important figures. It also served as a model for later Prabandha literature.
• Appendices: The volume includes nine appendices that are crucial for understanding the text. These include:
  1. A list of all stories in alphabetical order.
  2. A comparative study of the Kahavali's stories with those in the Trishashtishalaka Purusha Charitra (a major Jain universal history).
  3. A glossary of Deshya Prakrit words and the author's collected list of verses (Sukti).
  4. A list of Deshya Prakrit roots.
  5. A compilation of sayings (Lokokti) and epigrams (Abhanaka).
  6. A list of Tirthankara prayers.
  7. A list of classical Jaina subjects mentioned in the text.
  8. References to other scriptures.

The publication of this volume is a significant contribution to Jain scholarship, making a previously unpublished and extremely valuable text accessible to a wider audience.