Kavivar Banarasidas - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Kavivar Banarasidas," authored by Akhil Bansal and published by Bahubali Prakashan, based on the provided pages:

Introduction:

This illustrated book, "Kavivar Banarasidas," celebrates the 400th birth anniversary of Banarasidas, a prominent poet in the Bhakti period of Hindi literature. It aims to highlight the significant events in his life, drawing heavily from his autobiography, "Ardhakathanak," which is considered the first autobiography in Hindi literature. The book is compiled by Akhil Bansal and illustrated by Anant Kushwah.

Early Life and Family:

Banarasidas was born in 1586 CE to Khadagsen, a Shri-Mali Vanshiya Jain and a jeweler by profession. His family resided in Viholi village near Rohtak.
His father, Khadagsen, was well-educated and skilled in the gem trade.
The family faced hardships, including an intense desire for a child. Banarasidas was born on a specific day in Magh Shukla, Ekadashi, Saturday, after his parents' fervent prayers.
His father's business was primarily in Jaunpur and Agra.
Upon his birth, his father went with relatives to worship Bhagwan Parshvanath at Sammed Shikhar. A divine pronouncement suggested naming the child after the city of Bhagwan Parshvanath's birth. The child was named Vikramjeet, who later became known as Banarasidas.

Childhood and Education:

Banarasidas was an intelligent child and quickly learned to read and write.
At the age of nine, his marriage was fixed with the daughter of Kalyanmal Tambi of Khairabad.
He received education in various subjects, including scriptures, astrology, poetics, and the "Koka Shastra," from Pandit Deviprasad and the learned Jain Muni Bhanuchand.

Early Life Experiences and Struggles:

The family's life was filled with a mix of joy, sorrow, scarcity, and struggles.
A severe famine struck Jaunpur a year after his marriage, causing immense hardship. During this time, his wife often stayed at her maternal home.
The famine's impact was felt by everyone, including jewelers, who were brutally treated by the Nawab of Jaunpur, Kilij Khan, demanding large sums of money. Fearing further persecution, many jewelers fled Jaunpur.
Khadagsen, his father, also faced difficulties and found refuge with a businessman named Karamchand Mahar.
During this period, Banarasidas, while still young, began his studies in Jain dharma and also showed interest in business.
The family eventually returned to Jaunpur after the situation improved.
As a youth, Banarasidas engaged in various pursuits, including writing poetry, often with erotic themes, even composing a book on "Navras" (nine sentiments), focusing on sensual descriptions.

Personal Life and Moral Struggles:

Banarasidas was prone to indulgence and had a somewhat unrestrained life, engaging in love affairs. He even stole jewels from his father to impress a woman named Lal Mohini.
This lifestyle led him to contract a venereal disease, causing him immense physical suffering, hair loss, and disfigurement, making people avoid him.
His wife and mother-in-law provided him with some care. A barber-physician treated him with a special diet of unsalted food, and he eventually recovered.
However, upon returning home, he reverted to his old ways, continuing his unchaste lifestyle despite being married.
He also faced the sorrow of losing his infant daughter shortly after her birth.
Banarasidas experienced financial instability in his business and was often worried.
He pursued various superstitious practices, including seeking blessings from a sage for a mantra to gain wealth and worshiping a conch as a representation of Lord Shiva.

Shifting Inclinations and Spiritual Journey:

His father, Khadagsen, embarked on a pilgrimage to Sammed Shikhar with a large group in 1604 CE.
During this time, Banarasidas took vows of abstinence and went to bathe in the Ganges, later traveling to Banaras, but his desires continued.
The death of Emperor Akbar in 1605 CE greatly shook Banarasidas, causing him to fall down stairs and injure himself. The news of Akbar's death created widespread panic.
Following Akbar's death, Jahangir ascended the throne, bringing some semblance of order.
Banarasidas continued his spiritual practices, but his faith wavered when he suffered an injury.
He composed a book titled "Navras Granth" on the nine sentiments, but later, disgusted with worldly desires, he cast its pages into the Gomti River. This marked a turning point, and he dedicated himself to ethical and religious contemplation. Those who once criticized him for his character began to praise his transformation.

Business Ventures and Further Hardships:

Khadagsen sent Banarasidas to Agra to manage their business, which involved precious stones.
During a trip to Etawah, heavy rain forced them to seek shelter. They were denied entry into the city and found refuge in a humble hut belonging to a guard.
Upon reaching Agra, Banarasidas suffered significant losses due to his lack of experience in selling gems, leading to illness and despair.
He eventually sold off whatever little he had left and continued to live a meager existence, even borrowing food from a local halwai (sweet seller).
His father-in-law, Tarachand Tambi, helped him clear his debts. Despite two years of hard work, he was left with nothing.
He returned to his in-laws' home in Khairabad, where his mother gave him money to restart his business in Agra.
He began trading in clothes in Agra but faced losses, realizing that the gem trade was more profitable.
He became bankrupt and, along with a porter and his father-in-law, walked to Shahzadpur.

Encounter with Dacoits and Spiritual Awakening:

Banarasidas met his friend Narottamdas. They, along with his father-in-law, traveled to Patna for business.
During their journey, they got lost in a dense forest at night.
They encountered dacoits. To save themselves, Banarasidas and his companions pretended to be Brahmins, fabricating their identity with clay and sacred threads.
This act of survival led to a deeper contemplation of life and spirituality.
After escaping the forest, they reached Fatehpur and then Banaras. In Banaras, he made several vows at a Bhagwan Parshvanath temple, vowing to renounce certain items.
Tragically, his newborn son died in Banaras, and his father-in-law proposed his marriage to his second daughter.
Banarasidas's life became like a blacksmith's tongs, experiencing both fire and water. He continued his business in Jaunpur, Banaras, and Patna.
The Nawab of Jaunpur, Amir Khan Kilij Khan, was fond of Banarasidas and patronized him, encouraging him to study texts like "Nam-mala," "Chhand Kosh," and "Shrut Bodh."

Further Trials and Spiritual Conviction:

In 1618 CE, the tyrannical Amir Adhanur became the ruler of Jaunpur, causing widespread terror and forcing many wealthy individuals to flee.
Amir Adhanur persecuted jewelers, money-lenders, and merchants. Banarasidas, along with others, fled, but he was recognized as a jeweler.
He facilitated the identification of his younger brother's in-laws to escape the harsh ruler.
After fleeing Jaunpur, Banarasidas, along with his companions Maheshwari and a Brahmin, faced further hardships and were robbed. They were left with nothing.
He struggled to settle his accounts with Sah Subal Singh Mothia, who was immersed in his own opulent life.
Eventually, through the efforts of Anga Shah, an agreement was reached, freeing Banarasidas from partnership bonds.

Later Life and Literary Works:

The first plague broke out in Agra, forcing Banarasidas to seek refuge in a village.
During this period, he extensively studied Jain literature. His mind began to detach from worldly affairs.
Despite his inclinations, he married for a third time due to pressure from others. However, his wife and son died shortly after childbirth.
A significant turning point in his life came with the reading of "Samaysar," which solidified his faith in Digambar Jain Dharma.
His life was thereafter dedicated to spiritual discussions and writing.
Notable works from this period include "Sakti Ratnamala," "Shiva Pachisi," and "Ram-Ravan Antar."
His most significant work is the "Samaysar Natak," containing 727 verses.
At the age of 55, Banarasidas wrote his autobiography, "Ardhakathanak," detailing the first 55 years of his life.
He met the great poet Tulsidas, to whom he presented a copy of "Ramcharit Manas." Tulsidas, in turn, wrote verses in praise of Bhagwan Parshvanath for Banarasidas.
Banarasidas's life was marked by a blend of worldly experiences and profound spiritual inclination.

Death:

While lying on his deathbed, Banarasidas remained immersed in contemplation. His life was entwined with his family, and relinquishing worldly attachments proved difficult.
Even in his final moments, he was trying to write, with his fingers moving to form letters.
His last written words are a poignant farewell: "Chale Banarasidas, pher nahi aavna" (Banarasidas has departed, he will not return).

Conclusion:

The book concludes by highlighting the dual necessities of love, ideals, and heroism, alongside renunciation, non-violence, and detachment, as represented by the two poetic traditions. It also announces an upcoming illustrated book by Bahubali Prakashan on the life of Pujya Kanji Swami.