Kanhadde Prabandh Sanskrutik Drushti Se - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Kanhadde Prabandh Sanskrutik Drushti Se" by Bhogilal J. Sandesara:

This text is an analysis of the "Kanhadde Prabandh" from a cultural perspective, based on a speech delivered by Bhogilal J. Sandesara. The author expresses gratitude to Seth Lalbhai Dalpatbhai for the invitation and for allowing the subject of the speech to be "Kanhadde Prabandh." Sandesara recounts his initial encounter with the text in 1930, which was his first exploration of ancient Gujarati literature. He has since studied and taught the work, finding its significance and appeal grow with each engagement.

About the "Kanhadde Prabandh":

Origin: The "Kanhadde Prabandh" is a poem composed in 1456 CE (Samvat 1512) in Jalore, a town located in the former Jodhpur state of Rajasthan, bordering Gujarat. The author notes a historical connection between the founding family of the venue (Seth Lalbhai Dalpatbhai) and the Jalore region.
Language: The language of the "Kanhadde Prabandh" is identified as Old Gujarati or Old Western Rajasthani (Maru-Gurjar).
Author: The author of this epic poem is Padmanabh, a Nagar poet from Visalnagar.
Significance: It is considered one of the most distinctive and renowned works of ancient Gujarati literature.
Content: The poem is a long narrative epic filled with heroic (vir) and pathetic (karun) sentiments. Its main storyline revolves around:
- The invasion of Gujarat by Alauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi, during the reign of the last Hindu ruler of Gujarat, Karnadev Vaghela.
- The demand for passage through the Jalore kingdom, then ruled by the Sonigra Chauhan Kanhaddev, for the Sultan's army on its way to Gujarat and for the destruction of the Somnath temple.
- Kanhaddev's refusal of this demand.
- Kanhaddev's subsequent victory over the Sultan's soldiers when they were returning from Gujarat with fragments of the Somnath lingam.
- Alauddin's eventual siege of Jalore with a vast army, which lasted for many years.
- The fort's fall due to the betrayal of a Rajput, leading to the Jauhar (mass immolation) of the Rajput women.
- The poem also includes some sub-plots.

Literary and Cultural Aspects:

Poetic Style: The "Kanhadde Prabandh" is primarily composed in Doha-Chaupai verses, with occasional Pada-Urmigeet verses expressing pathos. Padmanabh's poetic voice is described as forceful, fluent, eloquent, and imbued with patriotism.
Language Mastery: The poet exhibits exceptional command over the language and a rich vocabulary.
Persian-Arabic Influence: Despite being a narrative of conflict with Muslim powers, the poem extensively incorporates Persian-Arabic words, reflecting the cultural exchange of the era. The author notes that no other ancient Gujarati work contains as many such words, citing a list of 111 such words compiled with student assistance.
Historical Accuracy and Context: Padmanabh, as the court poet of Akheraj, a descendant of Kanhaddev, possessed a deep understanding of historical facts and background. His firsthand experience of Hindu and Muslim politics makes the "Kanhadde Prabandh" a significant work from historical and cultural viewpoints, offering insights into the social conditions of the time.
Linguistic Unity: The creation of this work by a Gujarati resident in Jalore (Rajasthan) highlights the linguistic unity between Gujarat and Rajasthan up to the 16th century. It serves as evidence of the common ancestral form of modern Gujarati and Rajasthani.

Discovery and Editions:

The "Kanhadde Prabandh" and its author had been largely forgotten. Its rediscovery is attributed to the renowned scholar of Indian studies, Dr. Georg Bühler, about a century ago. He first encountered a manuscript in a Jain library in Tharadh while searching for Sanskrit manuscripts for the Bombay government.
Dr. Bühler sent a copy to Navalram Laxmiram Pandya, a prominent Gujarati literary critic and scholar. Despite the copy being highly inaccurate, Pandya published it sequentially in the "Gujarat Shala Patra" (1877-78) to prevent its loss.
Subsequently, more manuscripts were found in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
The first systematic edition was by Shri Dahyabhai Derasari (1913, second edition 1926), based on five manuscripts.
Shri Kantilal Vyas re-edited it in 1953, using eleven manuscripts.
More manuscripts have been discovered since, including a significant one from 1610 VS (1553 CE) from the Bhandar of Yati Shri Hemchandji.
While it might not have achieved the same popularity as some other ancient works, the wide distribution of its manuscripts across various locations proves its significant reach in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The Nature of "Prabandh":

The term "Prabandh" generally means "composition" or "work." In Sanskrit literature, it refers to a distinct literary form prevalent in Gujarat and Malwa, often attempted by Jain authors.
Generally, Prabandhas are prose works (sometimes with verses) narrating historical or semi-historical events. Examples include "Prabandhachintamani" by Merutunga Acharya, "Prabandhako sh" by Rajshekhar Suri, and "Bhoja Prabandh" by Ballala.
The influence of Sanskrit Prabandhas might have led to the use of the term for historical narratives in Gujarati literature, like "Kanhadde Prabandh," "Vimal Prabandh" by Lavanyasamay, and "Bhoja Prabandh" by Sarang.
However, this definition is not entirely precise. Some manuscripts of "Kanhadde Prabandh" refer to it as "Ras," "Charitra," "Pawara," or "Chaupai." Similar variations exist for other works.
The distinction between "Ras" and "Prabandh" in ancient Gujarati is not clearly defined, and it's not entirely accurate to consider them separate literary forms.

Key Cultural and Historical Insights from the "Kanhadde Prabandh":

Dual Kingship (Dvirajya): The text discusses the concept of dual kingship, where two rulers (father and son) govern simultaneously. This practice was present in ancient India and is discussed by Kautilya in the "Arthashastra." The author provides evidence of this system among the Vaghela rulers of Gujarat and the Chauhan rulers of Jalore, citing inscriptions.
- Vaghela Dynasty: Arjunadev's son, Ramdev, seems to have taken on the burden of rule during his father's lifetime. Similarly, Visaldev Vaghela, son of Viradhaval, ruled alongside his nephew Arjunadev. The inscription from the Chintamani Parshvanath temple at Khambhat (1296 CE) explicitly mentions Arjunadev and his elder son Ramdev ruling together.
- Chauhan Dynasty: Contemporary inscriptions from Jalore (1297 CE, 1299 CE, 1300 CE) clearly indicate Kanhaddev ruling alongside his father, Samantsingh.
Literary Memory: The author notes that even when fathers were rulers, sons were often more prominent in literature and tradition if they were more valorous. Kanhaddev, like Prithviraj and Hammir, is remembered as a brave warrior with strong leadership, overshadowing his father, Samantsingh, in memory.
Political Context: The text situates the events within the political landscape of the time, mentioning Firoz Khilji's attack on Jalore in 1293 CE and Sarangdev Vaghela's assistance to the Chauhans. This mutual aid likely contributed to Kanhaddev's refusal to allow Alauddin's army passage.
Cause of Conflict: The poem suggests that the enmity between Karnadev Vaghela and his minister Madhav Mehta stemmed from Karnadev's disrespect towards Madhav and the abduction of Madhav's wife. While historical authenticity is debated, the deep-seated animosity is evident. Madhav Mehta's attempt to place Udayaraj on the throne instead of Karnadev further highlights this conflict.
"Bhadavli" (Varnak): The "Kanhadde Prabandh" includes prose descriptions known as "Bhadavli" or "Varnak," which are a traditional way of describing subjects in a free, unbound manner. These have roots in ancient Indian literary traditions, appearing as "Peyyala" in Pali and "Vannao" in Jain Agam literature.
- The author details specific "Bhadavlis" describing Kanhaddev's horse and accouterments, the Jalore fort and assembly, the city of Jalore with its diverse inhabitants and trades, and the warriors.
Horses: The text provides a detailed list of various breeds of horses, some named after colors and physical attributes, others by region (e.g., Sindhu, Pahlavi, northern, Kanauj, central India, Devgiri, Bahad country) and some explicitly foreign (e.g., Spanish, Khorasani, Turkish). The term "Las" is used for a collection of horses, possibly a foreign loanword.
Weapons and Armor: The "Kanhadde Prabandh" mentions various weapons like swords (Khadga, Khanda), Patta (a type of sword), and Katari. It also describes armor types such as Jarahji, Jeevansal, Jeevarakhi, Angarakhi, Karangi, Vajrangi, and Lohabaddali.
Firearms and Artillery: The poem includes mentions of cannons ("nirata," "nali") and gunpowder ("golay," "bhuka"). The author suggests that the reference to cannons in "Kanhadde Prabandh" (1456 CE) predates other known Indian mentions of firearms, except for a disputed Chinese record. The description of cannonballs, firing, and the use of siege engines ("yantra magarbi") provides a vivid picture of warfare. The term "Nifata" is identified as a gunpowder storage.
Administrative Structure: A list of officials like Amatya, Pradhan, Samant, Mandalika, Mukut Bardhan, Ganadhikaran, Dharmadhikaran, Mashahani, Tavari, Barahia Purush, Veda, Pata Vario, Kothari, Parghu, Shelata, Nagartalar, Paudia, Suar, Avadhani, Dehrasari, and Bhandari provides insights into the administrative hierarchy.
Social Life and Trades: The text mentions the Vaisya caste, including Visha and Dasa communities, and their businesses. The reference to "Visa dasa vigati vistari, ek shravak ek maheshvari" is still relevant to Gujarat and Rajasthan today.
Rajput Clans: The poem mentions the inclusion of the "Huna" dynasty among the Rajput warriors serving Kanhaddev. This connects to historical accounts of Hunas in Rajput genealogies and their presence in folklore.
Architecture and Urban Planning: The mentions of architectural and urban planning elements are detailed in the "Bhadavlis" and can be compared with descriptions in other Maru-Gurjar and Sanskrit literature, as well as with extant architectural styles and art from medieval Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Geography and Place Names: The locations mentioned in the "Kanhadde Prabandh," such as Jalore fort and city, are still identifiable today, allowing for direct geographical verification of the literary descriptions.

Conclusion:

The author concludes that "Kanhadde Prabandh" is a highly significant work in Maru-Gurjar literature from both linguistic and literary perspectives. It holds a unique place among the source materials for medieval Indian history. In an era where research into "non-Persian sources" is gaining prominence, this work deserves special attention. It stands alongside Sanskrit epics like Jayanak's "Prithvirajvijay" and Nayanchandra Suri's "Hammirmakavya" as a chronicle of the Chauhan dynasty. Despite occasional hyperbole, the poem generally reflects the reality of the situation, offering a sense of freedom and uninhibited expression in its composition. Sandesara reiterates his gratitude for the opportunity to present this analysis.