Kalikalsarvagnya Hemchandracharya - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided text, which is an introduction (Aamukh) to the biography of Acharya Hemchandracharya by Dhūmaketu:

This introduction, authored by Punyavijayji, is a preface to the biography of Kālikālasarvajña Shri Hemchandracharya written by the esteemed Gujarati author Shri Dhūmaketu. It highlights the significance of Hemchandracharya and the quality of Dhūmaketu's work in presenting his life story.

Key Points and Themes:

Hemchandracharya's Stature: The introduction immediately establishes Hemchandracharya as a towering figure who infused Gujarat with culture, knowledge, and pure religiosity. He is described as a "great world personality" and "Kālikālasarvajña" (omniscient of the Kali Yuga). His influence is compared to the sunrise over the Saraswati river, illuminating all of Gujarat.
Existing Biographies and Dhūmaketu's Unique Contribution: It acknowledges that numerous biographies of Hemchandracharya exist in various languages (Prakrit, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Hindi, and even German by scholars like Dr. Bühler). However, it emphasizes that Dhūmaketu's work is a new contribution that presents a distinct kind of devotion and skill in its portrayal.
The Pitfalls of Biography Writing: The preface touches upon the challenges of writing biographies. It warns against the inaccuracies that can arise from solely relying on blind faith, which can obscure the truth. Conversely, it also cautions against those who approach biography with only scholasticism, leading to confusion and injustice to the subject. Dhūmaketu's biography is praised for its nuanced approach, offering a "special discernment" in this regard.
Sources and Historical Foundation: Dhūmaketu's biography is based on significant ancient and modern historical literature. These sources include the Prakrit-Sanskrit epic "Dayashraya Mahakavya," the play "Merurajaprajava," "Kumārapālaprābodha," "Prabhāvacharitra," and "Prabandhachintāmaṇi," as well as the important authentic accounts and legends recorded within them.
Hemchandracharya's Impact on Gujarat: The biography aims to showcase Hemchandracharya's profound impact:
- His elevated humanity and ideal asceticism.
- The harmonious blend of Saraswati (knowledge), politics, and religion in his life.
- How he channeled this "confluence of three rivers" into the hearts of the Gujarati people.
- His patriotism and pride for Gujarat and its people.
- His ability to win over even adversaries with humility.
- His detachment from worldly praise (lokēṣaṇā) and animosity (vairatti).
- How he influenced the kings, people, scholars, literature, and religions of his father's era with his asceticism.
- His vision for elevating Gujarat and its ruler.
- The vast body of diverse literature he gifted to the people of Gujarat through his universal and profound scholarship.
- How his genius elevated the social, political, religious, and academic (art, science) ideals of Aṇhilpur Pāṭan and Gujarat to peak heights.
- How he made the Gujarati people cultured, distinguished, and immortal in the eyes of the world.
Dhūmaketu's Skill: The preface highlights Dhūmaketu's mastery in presenting these aspects with skill, infused with interest, and deeply emotional and evocative language, surpassing previous biographies in their richness and detail.
Hemchandracharya's Legacy on Gujarati Society: The introduction attributes the positive traits of the Gujarati people today – such as freedom from vices, cultured living, tolerance, broad-mindedness, and minimal religious fanaticism – to Hemchandracharya and his all-encompassing perspective (sarvadarśana-samadarśitā).
Resolving Controversial Facts: The biography addresses a specific point of contention: whether King Kumārapāla became a follower of Jainism due to his contact and association with Hemchandracharya. Dhūmaketu is lauded for presenting a balanced and sweet rebuke to those who debate this issue, skillfully illustrating how Hemchandracharya imparted the true essence of Jainism to Kumārapāla. The King's internalization of these noble principles led him to embody Jainism and radiate its influence throughout Gujarat. The biography thus celebrates the guru-disciple relationship and their shared noble, non-sectarian, and pure Jain ideals.
The Nature of the Biography: The biography is characterized as free from artificiality and grounded in historical facts. Its narrative structure is described as captivating, with events presented in a way that engrosses the reader. It emphasizes Dhūmaketu's ability to not just recount events but to unveil the inner spirit and charisma (ojasvitā) of Hemchandracharya in an unadulterated manner. Even legends are not dismissed but are explored for their underlying truths with profoundness and maturity, offering a new path for contemporary writers.
Approach to Reading: Readers are urged to abandon narrow sectarian views and approach the biography with an open and liberal mind. Hemchandracharya's greatness lay in embracing the core principles of Jainism – renunciation, penance, and equanimity (samabhāva-syādvāda) – rather than superficial sectarism. He integrated Jainism's true essence and culture into the lives of the Gujarati people.
The Essence of True Religion: The introduction reflects on the broader nature of religion, stating that true religiosity flourishes when its proponents embody pure renunciation, penance, and equanimity. It laments the loss of this scientific equanimity in modern society, leading to conflict and division even within communities. The exemplary life of Hemchandracharya is presented as a guide to overcome this "chasm of helplessness."
The Need for Modern Reorientation: The preface calls for a reevaluation of how religion contributes to human development. It warns that external rituals without the core principles of renunciation, penance, and equanimity will lead to a lifeless, ritualistic practice. The current state of religiosity is described as largely "dead" due to a focus on narrow sectarianism and communalism, overshadowing scientific inquiry and universal compassion.
A Call to Action for the Jain Community: The introduction directly addresses the Jain community, urging learned Jain ascetics and acharyas to internalize Hemchandracharya's noble quality of universalism. This, it argues, would curb the wasteful discussions, loss of precious time, monastic life, and knowledge power in unproductive debates. It would also halt the decline of the Jain populace's religious life and religious wealth. The prevalence of discord and disunity within the Jain community needs to be eradicated to revive true religiosity.
Critique of Modern Jain Media: The preface criticizes the mushrooming of individualistic newspapers that foster factionalism. It states that the "intolerable blows" inflicted by these uncivil newspapers on the religiosity and unity of the Jain people are far worse than any opposition from outside. While the world strives for unity, Jain religious leaders and followers are wasting time and intellect on petty arguments.
Samabhāva (Equanimity) vs. Sectarianism: The conclusion reiterates that sectarianism devoid of equanimity degrades society, while sectarianism with equanimity elevates both self and others in a scientific manner. This very quality made the impartial King Siddharaj favor Hemchandracharya and the learned King Kumārapāla become his disciple. It also enabled Hemchandracharya to unite opposing figures like the Jain poet Shripal and the Vedic scholar Devabodh.
Purity of Dhūmaketu's Writing: The introduction concludes by drawing attention to Dhūmaketu's honesty, impartiality, and lack of bias in his writing, citing an anecdote shared by the renowned Gujarati writer Shri Zaverchand Meghani. Meghani recounts how Dhūmaketu removed a critical comment from his own manuscript about Hemchandracharya predicting his father's death, after his father's actual death proved his prediction accurate. This demonstrates Dhūmaketu's deep commitment to presenting the eternal truth, even at the expense of his own previously held beliefs.
Concluding Wish: The preface ends with a wish that all writers, poets, and scholars learn from Dhūmaketu's example of presenting eternal truth, and that readers approach this biography with the same commitment to truth and open-mindedness.