Madhya Pradesh Me Jainacharyo Ka Vihar - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Madhya Pradesh mein Jainacharyo ka Vihar" by Dr. Vidyadhar Johrapurkar, in English:

The article "Jainacharyo ka Vihar in Madhya Pradesh" by Dr. Vidyadhar Johrapurkar discusses the significant presence and activities of Jain scholars (Acharyas) in the region that now constitutes Madhya Pradesh. The author highlights that Madhya Pradesh, formed in November 1956, is geographically the largest state in India and serves as its heartland, boasting a rich contribution to Indian politics and cultural history. The presence of Jain followers across all significant parts of this region indicates its deep influence by Jain culture, further substantiated by numerous archaeologically important Jain remnants found in areas like Malwa, Vidisha, Sonagiri, Dashpur, Gwalior, Papoura, Ahar, Khajuraho, Chhatarpur, and Damoh.

The article aims to provide a compilation of some prominent Jain Acharyas who traveled and contributed to the development of Jainism in these regions between 500 BCE and the 19th century, serving as inspiration for future researchers to study the evolution of Jain culture in Madhya Pradesh.

Key Periods and Acharyas Mentioned:

Post-Mahavira's Nirvana (First 2 Centuries): No clear descriptions of Acharyas' movements in Madhya Pradesh are available for this period.
Around 1st Century BCE:
- Acharya Bhadrabahu: Moved to Ujjain, where he was honored by King Chandragupta, after which his sect moved south. (Mentioned in Harisena's Brihatkathakosh).
- Acharya Suhasti: A disciple of Bhadrabahu, his stay in Ujjain and the initiation of the merchant Avantikumara are documented in Rajshekhar Suri's Prabandhakosh.
- Acharya Kalaka: His stay in Ujjain and the downfall of the tyrannical King Gardabhilla are recorded in Prabhachandracharya's Prabhayakcharitra and other texts.
- Acharya Vajra: Born in the Avanti region, he studied the ten Purva texts of Acharya Bhadra Gupta in Ujjain.
- Acharya Rakshita: A disciple of Acharya Vajra, he was born in Dashpur (Mandsaur) and studied in Ujjain.
- Acharya Samantabhadra: Traveled in the Malwa and Vidisha regions, as noted in an inscription at Shravanabelgola.
- Acharya Siddhasena: His sojourn in Ujjain and his honoring by King Vikramaditya, along with the composition of the Dwātrinśikā, are found in Prabhayakcharitra, Prabandhakosh, and others.
Around 4th-5th Century CE:
- Acharya Ghosharmā's disciple Shankar Muni: Consecrated a Parshvanath idol in Udayagiri near Vidisha in 426 CE, as per an inscription there.
- Acharya Sarvasena: Consecrated a Jin idol during the reign of Ramagupta in Vidisha, as indicated by the inscription on its base.
8th to 10th Century CE:
- Acharya Vappabhatta: Consecrated a Jin temple built by King Ama (Nagabhat) in Gopachal (Gwalior).
- Nannasuri: Vappabhatta's fellow disciple, visited Gopachal at the invitation of Bhoja, Ama's grandson.
- Acharya Jinasena: Composed the Harivanshapurana in Vardhamanpur (believed to be near Ujjain) in 784 CE.
- Harisena: Composed the Brihatkathakosh in the same city in 932 CE.
- Acharya Devsena: Composed the Darshanasara in Dhara Nagar in 990 CE.
- Vasavachandra: Honored by King Dhung, along with the merchant Pahil, mentioned in the establishment inscription of the Khajuraho Shantinath temple (944 CE).
- Acharya Abhimatagati: Composed the Subhashitaratnasandoha in 993 CE during King Munja's reign and the Panchasangraha in 1016 CE, with the latter's composition place mentioned as Masutika Pura (Masod village near Dhar).
11th Century CE:
- Acharya Mahasena: Composed the Pradyumna Charita at the request of Sindhuraja's minister Parpat.
- Acharya Vardhmana: Conferred the title of Suri upon Jineshwara while traveling in Dhara Nagar.
- Acharya Abhayadevasuri: Born in Dhara Nagar, he became famous as the founder of the Kharatara Gaccha.
- Acharya Vadivatala Shantisuri: Author of the Uttaradhyayana commentary.
- Mahakavi Dhanpal: Visited Dhara Nagar and was honored by King Bhoja.
- Acharya Suracharya: Author of the Nabhēyanemidvisandhāna Kavya, also visited Dhara Nagar and was honored by King Bhoja.
- Acharya Shruta kirti: A preceptor of the author of Apabhramsha Kathakosh, Shri Chandra, was honored by King Bhoja and King Gangeya, suggesting his travels in the Dahal (Jabalpur) region.
- Acharya Vijayakirti: Consecrated a Jin temple in Dubkund near Gwalior in 1088 CE. His guru, Acharya Shantigna, was honored in King Bhoja's court.
- Acharya Prabhachandra: Composed the important works Nyayakumudachandra and Prameyakamalamartanda during the reigns of King Bhoja and his successor Jayasimha.
- Acharya Nayanarinda: Composed the Apabhramsha Kavya Sudarshanacharita in Dhara Nagar in 1044 CE during King Bhoja's reign.
- Acharya Shri Chandra: Composed Puranasara in Dhara Nagar in 1013 CE after studying under Acharya Sagarsena, and later wrote the Uttarapurana Tippan and Padmapurana Tippan during Bhoja's reign.
- Acharya Ubhayachandra: Mentioned in an inscription at Badoh near Vidisha (1057 CE).
- Acharya Deva Chandra (Mantra expert): Mentioned in an inscription at Badoh near Vidisha (1078 CE).
- Golacharya: Known from a Shravanabelgola inscription (1115 CE), he was a prince of the Chandela dynasty and ruler of the Golla region, who became a monk. His great-great-granddisciple Meghachandra's samadhimaran is also described.
- Acharya Subhadra: Consecrated a grand Shantinath idol in Bahurivand, 40 miles from Jabalpur, around 1130 CE during the reign of King Gayakarna.
12th to 14th Century CE:
- Acharya Ramachandra: Described in two inscriptions on Choolagiri mountain near Badwani (1166 CE), where he built a temple.
- Acharya Vishalakeerti and his disciple Madanakeerti: Their travels in Ujjain are documented in Prabandhakosh. Madanakeerti's Shasan Chatustrishika describes three places in Malwa: Navakhanda Parshvanath in Dhara, Abhinandan in Mangalpur, and Bada Dev (Bawanagaja) in Brihatpur (Badwani).
- Bhattarak Amranandi: Mentioned in two idol inscriptions from Khajuraho (estimated 12th century).
- Acharya Rajanandi's disciple Bhanukirti: Mentioned in an idol inscription from Khajuraho (1158 CE).
- Mahapandit Ashadhar: His praises are also found in the works of Vishalakeerti and Madanakeerti. Ashadhar studied Nyaya Shastra from Vishalakeerti and Grammar from Acharya Mahavira in Dhara. He wrote the Ishtopadesha commentary at the request of his disciple Vinayachandra, Acharya Sagarchandra. Muni Udayasena was among his admirers.
- Acharya Devendrasuri: Author of new Karmagranthas, and his disciple Vidyananda traveled in Ujjain. Vidyananda's fellow disciple Dharmaghoshasuri's travels in Ujjain and Mandapadurga (Mandav) are also noted.
- Acharya Deshanandi: Mentioned as the consecrator in a Pāwāgiri (Un) idol inscription (1201 CE).
- Acharya Dharmachandra: Mentioned as the consecrator in a Sonagiri idol inscription (1215 CE).
- Acharya Kamalbhadra: While he was traveling in Salkhanpur in Malwa, Damodar Kavi composed the Neminath Charita in his presence (1230 CE).
- Acharya Shubhakirti: Mentioned as the consecrator in an inscription of a Jin idol on Choolagiri mountain near Badwani (1312 CE).
- Acharya Prabhachandra: According to Dhanpal Kavi's Bahubali Charita (1398 CE), he traveled to Dhara Nagar among other places.
15th-16th Century CE:
- Poet Padmanabha Kayastha: Composed the Yashodhar Charita around 1405 CE in Gwalior under the instruction of Acharya Gunakirti.
- Acharya Yashahkirti: Copied the Bhavishyadatta Katha and Sukumar Charita in Gwalior in 1430 CE and restored the Arishtanemi Charita by Swayambhu.
- Acharya Gunabhadra: Composed fifteen stories, including Ananta Vratakatha, around 1450 CE in Gwalior.
- Acharya Jinchandra and Acharya Singhkirti: Consecrated Jin idols in Gwalior in 1457 CE and 1474 CE, respectively.
- Acharya Shruta kirti: Completed the Harivanshapurana in Jerhat near Damoh in 1457 CE.
- Acharya Devendrakirti of Surat: Performed consecrations in Avanti (Malwa) among other places.
- Acharya Mallibhooshan: His grandson, also traveled in Mandav and Gwalior in the latter half of the 15th century.
- Acharya Kamalkirti: Appointed Acharya Shubachandra as the head of the monastery in Sonagiri, as known from Ravi's Harivanshapurana.
- Acharya Singhnandi: Active in the Malwa region, as noted in the concluding inscription of Shrutsagar's Yashastilaka Chandrika and Nemidatta's Shripal Charita (1428 CE).
- Acharya Yashah Sena: Mentioned as the consecrator in a Sonagiri idol inscription (1443 CE).
- Acharya Yashonidhi: Mentioned in a Sonagiri idol inscription (1606 CE).
17th Century CE:
- Acharya Dharmakirti: Composed the Padmapurana in Malwa in 1612 CE. His guru, Acharya Lalitkirti, also traveled in Malwa. An inscription of Lalitkirti (1618 CE) is found in Ranod (near Shivpuri), and one of Dharmakirti (1624 CE) in Sonagiri.
- Acharya Lakshmisena: Mentioned as the consecrator in a Sonagiri idol inscription (1614 CE).
- Acharya Keshavasena: Composed the Karnamrita Purana in Malwa in 1631 CE.
- Acharya Vishwakirti: His and Acharya Keshavasena's sandals were installed in Sonagiri in 1644 CE.
- Acharya Vishwabhushan: Responsible for temple construction and idol installation in Sonagiri, as indicated by inscriptions from 1651 and 1690 CE.
- Acharya Sakalkirti: Mentioned as the consecrator in idol inscriptions from Papoura (1651 CE) and Ahar (1653 CE).
- Acharya Surendrakirti: Composed the Ravi Vrat Katha in Gwalior in 1683 CE.
18th Century CE:
- Various Sonagiri inscriptions list consecrating Acharyas and their years: Kumarsena and Devsena (1703), Vasudevakirti (1755), Mahendrabhooshan and Devendrakirti (1732), Devendra bhooshan (1780), and Mahendrakirti (1799).
- Acharya Devachandra: Became the head of the monastery in Manpura (District Mandsaur) in 1730 CE.
- Acharya Jinendrabhooshan: Consecrated a temple in Chhatarpur in 1783 CE.
19th Century CE:
- Sonagiri inscriptions from this century mention Acharyas and idol installation years: Vijayakirti (1811), Surendrabhooshan (1837), Rajendrabhooshan (1856), Charuchandrabhooshan (1866), Shilendrabhooshan (1873), and Lakshmisena (1874).
- Surendrabhooshan: Consecrated an idol in Panagar near Jabalpur in 1822 CE.
- Charuchandrabhooshan: Consecrated idols in the Hanuman Tal temple in Jabalpur in 1866, 1867, and 1869 CE.
- Acharya Narendra bhooshan: Performed consecrations in Panagar in 1797 CE.
- Acharya bhooshan: Performed consecrations in Panagar in 1838 CE.
- Acharya Harishchandra bhooshan: Consecrated idols in the Hanuman Tal temple in Jabalpur in 1834, 1839, and 1840 CE.

The article concludes by stating that this is a brief list of mentioned Jain Acharyas from published historical sources of various regions in Madhya Pradesh. It details 45 from Malwa, 30 from Gwalior, 8 from Chhatarpur, and 7 from Jabalpur. The purposes of their mention are categorized as 20 related to literary composition, 40 to idol consecration, and 30 for general travel. The author asserts that a thorough study and compilation of this information would greatly aid in understanding the history of Jainism and its cultural development in Madhya Pradesh.