Kavi Hariraj Krut Prakrit Malaya Sundari Chariyam

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Kavi Hariraj krut Prakrit Malaya sundari chariyam," based on the content of the pages:

The text is an academic article by Dr. Prem Suman Jain discussing a work titled "Prakrit Malayasundaricariyam" attributed to Kavi Hariraj. This work is presented as a significant, previously unpublished, and less-known composition within medieval Prakrit narrative literature.

Key Points and Discoveries:

• Focus on a Pune Manuscript: The article's primary focus is on a manuscript of the "Malayasundaricariyam" housed at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune. This manuscript was previously mentioned by scholars like Dr. H.D. Velankar and H.R. Kapadia.
• Attribution to Kavi Hariraj: Crucially, this Pune manuscript is the only known copy that explicitly attributes the work to Kavi Hariraj. Previous discussions of "Malayasundaricariyam" in Sanskrit, Hindi, and Gujarati versions generally considered the author to be unknown. This finding suggests a potential new understanding of the work's authorship.
• Manuscript Details:
  • The Pune manuscript consists of 28 pages, with approximately 14 lines per page and about 40 words per line.
  • The condition of the manuscript is good, but the language exhibits many errors, with simplified spellings (e.g., "अस्थि" written as "अथि," "तत्थ" as "तथ").
  • The manuscript is divided into four sections (Stavaka or Padala).
• Structure of the Work: The "Malayasundaricariyam" in this manuscript is structured as follows:
  • First Stavaka: Describes the birth of Malayasundari, comprising 130 gathas (verses).
  • Second Stavaka: Details her youth and marriage, extending up to 383 gathas.
  • Third Padala: Narrates the entry of Mahabal and Malayasundari into their city and home, up to 527 gathas.
  • Fourth Padala: Concludes the narrative with Malayasundari attaining Shivapada (liberation), ending at the 797th gatha.
• Abridged Version: The text notes that this work appears to be an abridged version of the original "Malayasundaricariyam," which is estimated to have around 1300 Prakrit gathas.
• Dating: The manuscript's colophon (final inscription) indicates its writing time as Samvat 1628 (Chaitra Krishna Paksha, 9th day, Monday). This dating is significant for establishing the period of Kavi Hariraj.
• Kavi Hariraj Introduction:
  • The poet identifies himself as Hariraj, Kavi Hariraj, or Hari Kavi in the colophons of the different sections.
  • He states that he wrote this work as per the instruction of Saraswati and for the pleasure of Sushravak Shri Hemraj, who was his elder brother and an inspiration.
  • The poet belonged to the Shrimal clan, a well-known lineage in Jain tradition. His father was Shri Hansraj. This places the poet and his immediate family in the 15th-16th century.
  • The article attempts to connect this Hariraj with the Harimuni, a disciple of Vajrasen (14th century), who wrote the Sanskrit work "Karpuraprakar." Both are referred to as "Harikavi," and the time frame (16th century) aligns.
  • There's a mention of Hemprabharya in the final colophon, whose identity (whether the poet's guru or another person) requires further research.
• Literary Features and Influences:
  • The author mentions that the work is titled "Gyanratnopakhyan" in one instance, a title also used by Jaytilak Suri for his own "Malayasundari Charitra."
  • Both Jaytilak Suri and Hariraj emphasized the importance of Ratnatraya (knowledge, perception, conduct) and knowledge at the beginning of their works, suggesting a possible influence of Jaytilak Suri's Sanskrit work on Hariraj's Prakrit composition.
  • While the poet intended to write in Prakrit, he occasionally used Sanskrit for prose passages and aphorisms (e.g., verses 478, 554, 580, 613).
  • The influence of regional languages like Gujarati is also evident, with the poet referring to certain verses as 'dohada'.
• Significance and Future Research:
  • The Pune manuscript is considered important because it is the sole source attributing the work to Kavi Hariraj.
  • The article notes that other Prakrit manuscripts of this story exist in various libraries (Bombay, Agra, Limbdi, Jaisalmer, Surat), but they have not yet been accessed to determine their relationship with the Pune manuscript.
  • The author plans to publish this Pune manuscript.

In essence, Dr. Prem Suman Jain's article introduces a significant Prakrit Jain text, "Malayasundaricariyam," attributing it to Kavi Hariraj based on a specific manuscript. This discovery potentially sheds new light on medieval Jain narrative literature by identifying a previously unknown author and highlighting the abridged nature of this particular version. The article also delves into the manuscript's details, the poet's background, and potential literary connections.