Madhyakalin Gujarat Na Mukhya Jain Sahityakaro - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Madhyakalin Gujarat na Mukhya Jain Sahityakaro" by Vijayrai Kalyanray Vaidya, in English:

This text is an excerpt from a larger work discussing prominent Jain litterateurs of medieval Gujarat. The author, Vijayrai Kalyanray Vaidya, begins by situating Jainism within the broader context of Indian culture, alongside Vedic and Buddhist traditions, all stemming from the ancient "Aryan spirit." He highlights the profound influence of great spiritual leaders like Mahavir Swami and Lord Buddha on the Indian populace, who, in turn, translated these teachings into rich literary traditions across various languages.

The primary focus of this excerpt is to introduce, in brief, the significant literary contributions of Jain scholars in Gujarat from ancient times up to the 18th century CE. The author notes that even before the time of Dr. Munshi's mention of Padliptacharya (pre-500 CE) and Haribhadra (750 CE), who authored religious narratives, Gujarat was a fertile ground for Jain literary output.

The excerpt then pays special homage to Acharya Hemchandra, often referred to as "Kālikālasarvajña" (the Omniscient of the Kali Yuga). The author elevates Hemchandra to a status comparable to literary giants like Kalidasa in Sanskrit literature and Bana Bhatt in Harsha's court. Hemchandra is presented as a polymath, a living encyclopedia, whose contributions are likened to those of Aristotle, Leonardo da Vinci, Bacon, and even modern thinkers like Henri Poincaré and Alfred North Whitehead. His intellectual prowess and prolific output are considered a source of pride for Gujaratis.

The text then details Hemchandra's vast literary achievements, citing a verse by Kavi Somaprabh Suri that enumerates his seminal works:

Grammar: The monumental "Siddha-Hema" (over 1.25 lakh verses), which includes examples from Prakrit and Apabhramsha.
Lexicography: "Abhidhanachintamani" (based on Amarakosha), "Anekarthasangraha" (a treasury of words with multiple meanings), and "Deshinaamala" (with a commentary, focusing on Prakrit).
Prosody (Pingala): "Chhandonushasana," a critical treatise on Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Apabhramsha meters.
Poetics (Kavya Shastra): "Kavyanushasana," based on the works of earlier Alamkarikas like Mammata, along with its commentaries "Alankara Chudamani" and "Viveka."
Logic: A work titled "Pramana Mimansa."
Epic Poems: "Yashroy" (20 cantos) and "Kumarpalcharit" (8 cantos), historical epics in Sanskrit-Prakrit that also incorporate grammatical rules.
Biographical Works: "Trishashthi Shalaka Purush Charitra" (narrating the lives of 63 Jain figures in 32,000 verses), "Parishishtaparva" (3500 verses), and "Mahavir Charitra."
Miscellaneous: "Yogashastra" and devotional hymns (Stotras).

The period of Acharya Hemchandra is rightly termed the "Hemayuga" (Golden Age). His inspiration, described by the poet Devachandra as the "Mandara mountain for churning the ocean of knowledge," fostered a generation of literary gems in Gujarat between approximately 1106 and 1173 CE. This era coincided with Sultanate rule, during which Patan flourished as a great center of learning, and the Solanki period witnessed significant intellectual and military achievements.

The excerpt then introduces some of Hemchandra's disciples who continued his legacy:

Ramachandrasuri: A chief disciple who received the title "Kavi-Kataramalla" from King Jayasingh Siddharaja. He is credited with works like "Prabandh Shatkarta" and was a scholar of language, logic, and poetry.
Guna-chandragani: Collaborated with Ramachandrasuri on "Natyadarpan" (which analyzes twelve types of metaphors) and authored "Dravyalamkara" (on the elements of poetic description). His independent works include the plays "Kaumudi-Mitrananda" (ten acts) and "Navvilas" (seven acts), depicting the stories of Mitra and King Nala respectively.
Mahendrasuri: Author of "Anekartha Kosh" and "Kaumudi."
Vardhamangani: Writer of the praise-poem "Kumara Vihar."
Devachandra: Author of the chapter-play "Chandralekha Vijaya."

The author includes a concluding quote from the late Mohanlal M. Desai, a renowned researcher of Jain literature, who describes the Hemayuga as "golden" and a period of great glory and influence for Jainism and literature, leaving a lasting impact on Gujarat.

The text then shifts to discuss other Jain litterateurs from the 10th century onwards, who wrote in Apabhramsha, Old Gujarati, and later Modern Gujarati. These scholars contributed significantly to various genres, including religious narratives, Fagu (seasonal poems), Rasa (narrative poems with musical elements), and Prabandha (biographical narratives).

Notable works in Apabhramsha mentioned are:

Harivamsa and Paumariya (Padmacharitra) by Swayambhudeva.
Mahapurana by Pushpadanta.
Bhavisatta-Kaha by Dhanpal.
Yogasara (105 Doha) and Paramatma-Prakasha by Yogindradeva.

The excerpt then highlights key poets and their contributions to the rising Gujarati language:

Shalibhadra Suri: Author of "Bharteshwar Bahubali Ras" (203 verses), a powerful poem narrating the conflict between Bharat and Bahubali for their father's kingdom, composed in 1185 CE.

The text then lists significant prose and verse works from the 12th to 14th centuries CE:

Mahendrasuri's "Jambuswami-Charitra" (1210 CE), a eulogy of the protagonist's qualities.
Vijaysensuri's "Revantagiri Ras" (circa 1231 CE), a beautiful poem inspired by the Revantagiri hill, composed by the religious preceptor of Vastupal.
Vinay Sundar's "Nemnath Chaturpadika" (circa 1269 CE), a beautiful and ornate work, considered one of the earliest Baramasi (twelve-month) poems in Gujarati.
Amradeva Suri's "Samar Raso" (1315 CE), which effectively narrates the life of Samarsingh, a prominent chieftain of the era.
Tarunaprabha Suri (1355 CE) is recognized as the first prose writer in Gujarati. His prose in "Pratikraman Shravaka Bodha" is described as graceful and powerful.
Vinayaprabha's "Gautamswami Ras" (1356 CE) from Khambhat, which includes beautiful descriptions of nature in connection with the virtues of the Ganadhar Gautam.
Kulamandana (1394 CE), a prose writer whose grammar book "Mugdha Bodha Okti" was a popular guide for children, written in simple Gujarati of that time.

The excerpt continues by mentioning:

Somsundar (1374-1446), Jayshekhar (active circa 1406), and Bhanijyasundar (1422): These poets made memorable contributions to the emerging Gujarati literature through their prose and verse. Somsundar's "Nemnath Navras-Fagu" features a beautiful description of spring. Jayshekhar adapted his Sanskrit work "Prabandhachintamani" into Gujarati as "Tribhuvana Deepak Prabandha."
Manikyasundar: His "Panch Ullasi Prithvichandra Charitra" (also known as "Vag Vilas") is the first detailed prose religious narrative, characterized by its flowing rhythm and linguistic beauty.
Vinayachandra (active circa 126 CE): His work "Nemnath Chaturpadika" is noted for its distinctive merit.
Jinpada Suri (1316-44): His "Siriyulibhadra Fagu" is a readable work that, while religious, also presents a picture of worldly life.
Rajshekhar (active circa 1337-49): His "Nemnath Fagu" contains suggestions of spring festivals, with descriptions that, while following the prevailing style, exhibit flashes of true poetic talent.

The foremost poets of the 15th-16th centuries are then introduced:

Lavanyasamay (born 1465): A famous writer of Prabandhas.
Kushalab: His "Madhav Kakundal Ras" (circa 1560 CE) is a gem of narrative poetry.
Nayasundar (active between 1560-1620): Contributed to literature with works like "Rupchand Kunwar Ras" and "Nal Damayanti Ras," characterized by subtle emotions and linguistic elegance.
Nemivijay: Known for his "Shilavati Ras" (1994), he is described as a multi-faceted poet with a deep appreciation for emotion and mastery of multiple languages.

The author concludes by stating that the article has become longer than anticipated and therefore stops with Nemivijay, the prominent poet from the late 17th century, seeking the reader's forgiveness for this necessary brevity.

The excerpt also includes a reference list of the sources used: "Jain Sahityano Sankshipt Itihas" by Mohanalal M. Desai, "Gujarat and its Literature" by K.M. Munshi, "Solanki Yug ni Shri ane Sanskriti" by Bh. J. Sandesara, and "Gujarati Sahityani Ruprekha" by Vijayrai K. Vaidya.