Madan Yuddh Kavya Ane Sankshipta Parichay

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Madan Yuddh Kavya ane Sankshipta Parichay" by Ambalal P. Shah, based on the provided pages:

The book review and excerpt of "Madan Yuddh Kavya" by Pandit Ambalal Premchand Shah highlights the intellectual and artistic contributions of Jains throughout history. The author begins by acknowledging the Jain community's consistent effort to excel in all aspects of culture, often with unique intellectual contributions evident in their vast literature, sculpture, architecture, and painting. He notes that while Jainism has a rich tradition of establishing libraries, there's no record of a Jain university comparable to the Buddhist Nalanda. He speculates this might be due to a concern among Jain scholars about potential laxity in monastic practices if they engaged too closely with external centers of learning. However, he contrasts this with the widespread establishment of Jain libraries, which he sees as a testament to their foresight and organizational prowess, particularly as they were often community-supported rather than state-sponsored, which he believes contributed to their longevity.

The review then focuses on the "Madan Yuddh Kavya" itself. The author states that the discovery of works like "Panch Sari Vaat" by Shri Sarabhai Nawab, "Parmar Par" by the Jain poet Damodar, and the present "Madan Yuddh Kavya" demonstrates that "Sakht Vichar" (a previously considered unparalleled work) is not the final word in literary composition.

About the "Madan Yuddh Kavya":

• Title: The manuscript of the poem is titled "Man Vadhya" (Mind Killing), but the poem itself explicitly mentions "Madhan Vadhya" (Kama/Lust Killing) in its ninth stanza. The author chose to retain the name mentioned within the poem.
• Author: The poem was composed by Jain Muni Shri Hemkavi in Samvat 1776 (1719 CE) on the fifth day of Bhadrapada Shukla in Burhanpur.
• Historical Context: The fact that Damodar's "Parmar Par" was also composed in Burhanpur suggests insights into the social and religious conditions of the city during that period.
• Spiritual Lineage: Hemkavi was a disciple of Acharya Shri Kalyansagar Suri of the Vidhi Pak (Anchal) Gacch. Kalyansagar Suri was himself a disciple of Shri Dharmamurti Suri. The inscription (prashasti) of some of Kalyansagar Suri's works and the concluding verse of this poem mention this lineage.
• Other Works: No other works by Hemkavi are known, though it's possible he is the same person who authored "Marshādhipati Prajāti Varnan."

Thematic Content and Comparison:

• Narrative: The poem features a dialogue between Madan (Kama, the god of love) and Rati (his consort). Rati implores Madan not to disturb the ascetic, Acharya Kalyansagar Suri. However, Madan, ignoring Rati's plea and armed with his father's weaponry, sets out to break the Acharya's vows. Ultimately, Madan is defeated by the Acharya's virtuous aura and becomes impotent (hatavirya).
• Comparison with other works: The plot structure is compared to the "Lalit Vistar" or "Buddhacharita" where Kama attempts to disrupt Shambhu's meditation. In the latter, Shambhu is described as defeating Kama, but the poem ends with the union of Shiva and Parvati. In contrast, "Madan Yuddh Kavya" concludes with Madan's defeat at the hands of a steadfast ascetic, highlighting the triumph of self-control and virtue.
• Philosophical Undertones: The poem's narrative emphasizes the Jain ideal of Ahimsa (non-violence) as the supreme essence of life. It illustrates how, even with worldly temptations and pleasures presented, the virtuous ascetic remains absorbed in his own state, unaffected.
• Literary Merit: While acknowledging that the poem is devotional and not of the highest literary caliber, the author praises Hemkavi's portrayal of Rati's beauty and her scientifically structured arguments, stating it is not inferior to Sanskrit poetry.

Literary Analysis of the Excerpted Poem:

The provided excerpt showcases the poetic style and language. It includes:

• Dohra and Chhappay meters: These are common Indian poetic forms.
• Descriptive language: The poem uses rich imagery to describe Madan's attributes and Rati's pleas.
• Dialogue: The interaction between Madan and Rati drives the narrative.
• Biblical references: There are references to various saints and their wisdom.
• Detailed descriptions of Rati: The excerpt includes extensive descriptions of Rati's physical beauty, her attire, and her actions, often using similes and metaphors to compare her to natural elements like lotuses, swans, and the moon.
• Madan's arguments and Rati's counter-arguments: The core of the poem's conflict lies in their verbal exchange.
• The battle against temptation: The poem depicts Madan's arsenal (flower arrows, etc.) and Rati's strategic arguments to dissuade him.
• The ultimate defeat of temptation: The poem culminates in Madan's impotence (hatavirya) in the face of the ascetic's spiritual strength.

In essence, "Madan Yuddh Kavya" is a Jain poetic work that dramatizes the struggle against sensual desires, portraying the power of asceticism and virtuous conduct to overcome temptation, all within the framework of Jain philosophy and devotional literature.