Mahavir Jin Stavan - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Mahavir Jin Stavan" by Kavi Rishabhdas, as presented in the provided pages:

Book Title: Mahavir Jin Stavan (Praise of Mahavir Jin) Author: Kavi Rishabhdas Editor/Publisher: Sanvijayashilchandra Suri (ZZ_Anusandhan) Date of Composition: Diwali, Samvat 1666 (1609 CE), in Bavti-Khambhat. Language: Gujarati, using contemporary spoken language and dialects, making it valuable for linguistic and dialectical studies.

Overall Theme: The "Mahavir Jin Stavan" is a devotional hymn praising Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. It details his life, virtues, spiritual enlightenment, and the assembly of his followers.

Summary of Key Sections and Themes:

Page 1:

Introduction: The text is an unpublished work by Kavi Rishabhdas, edited based on his handwritten manuscript. It was composed on Diwali in 1666. The language used is notable for its reflection of the spoken Gujarati of the time.
Opening Verses (Stanza 1-2): The hymn begins with salutations to Saraswati, finding joy in the words of the Jin (Tirthankara), and paying homage to Vardhaman (Mahavir), the 24th Tirthankara. It mentions his birth in the Siddhartha clan and his first name, Nahisar.
Birth and Early Life (Stanza 3-5): Mahavir was born on the 13th day of the bright half of Chaitra. His father, King Siddhartha, rejoiced. While living as a prince, he enjoyed worldly pleasures for thirty years. Upon his renunciation, the Lokantik gods came to request him to preach. He then took vows and celebrated the festival of his initiation.
Spiritual Practice (Stanza 6-8): Mahavir meticulously followed the four types of vows. He shed all karmic bonds, including the four types of ghati karma (destructive karma): darshanavarniya (perception-obscuring), jnanavarniya (knowledge-obscuring), mohanīya (delusion-inducing), and antaraya (obstructing). By eradicating these, he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience).

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The Samavasarana (Divine Assembly) (Stanza 9-12): The text describes the grand Samavasarana created by the gods for Mahavir's preaching. It details the raised platform, four pillars, a diamond throne, banners, yak-tail whisks, a celestial archway (bhamandal), an Ashok tree, twenty thousand steps, and four reservoirs. The Samavasarana is described as being one and a half krosh (a unit of distance) high.
Mahavir's Presence and Teachings (Stanza 13-15): Within this divine assembly, Mahavir, radiating thirty-four virtues, proclaimed his teachings. His appearance was immensely beautiful and luminous. His body was free from disease, pure, and emitted a fine fragrance like Champaka flowers, attracting bees. His breath was like a gentle breeze, and his presence brought peace. His teachings were so profound that the gods could understand them, and the Bhamandal encompassed everything, extending for one yojan (another unit of distance). His presence removed illness, fear of enemies, excessive rain, and drought.

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Mahavir's Infinite Qualities (Stanza 16-18): The hymn further enumerates Mahavir's attributes: he attained eleven Gunasthana (spiritual stages) and received nineteen divine powers from the gods. The Dharma Chakra (Wheel of Law) moved in the sky, and whisks waved. The jewel-studded throne and the triple umbrella were above him. The Indra Dhwaj (Indra's banner) rose high into the sky. Wherever Mahavir placed his feet, lotus flowers bloomed. The divine assembly had three tiers, adorned with gold, gems, and jewels. Beneath the Ashok tree, Mahavir sat, and all beings, even those with sharp intellects, bowed to him. The celestial drum (dubhi) played automatically, filling the air with sound. The wind blew favorably, and birds circled him in clockwise procession, chanting auspicious words. The earth bloomed with flowers, and his devotees found immense joy. The senses were pleased, and Mahavir displayed thirty-four outstanding virtues.

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Devotion and Renunciation of Sins (Stanza 19-26): The text urges the devotee to praise Mahavir and avoid boastfulness. It highlights Mahavir's freedom from eighteen types of sins (dosha) which are compared to a lion shying away from an elephant. It emphasizes praising Mahavir's virtues and not speaking ill of others. Mahavir's generosity, his absence of obstacles in giving, and his ability to enlighten many are praised. His unwavering adherence to vows, his self-discipline, and lack of laziness are noted. His enjoyment of immense worldly pleasures followed by complete detachment, his anointing with sandal and saffron, and his attainment of the Samavasarana are described. He was free from pride, attachment, aversion, fear, disgust, and greed. He did not speak falsehood or err. He was free from sleep and other non-virtues. Those who have conquered passion and hatred attain the path to liberation. They protect all six types of living beings and have shed eight kinds of pride.

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Conquering the Eight Prides (Stanza 27-30): The hymn details how Mahavir conquered eight types of pride:
- Pride of birth.
- Pride of wealth.
- Pride of strength.
- Pride of beauty.
- Pride of knowledge.
- Pride of penance.
- Pride of family lineage.
- Pride of spiritual attainment. The text warns against pride, citing examples like King Sanatkumar who suffered from disease due to his pride. It states that pride in penance leads to the decline of merit, and pride in scriptural knowledge makes one foolish.
Mahavir's Virtuous Deeds and Disciples (Stanza 31-37): Mahavir's victory over the eight prides illuminated the world. He established the four-fold Sangha (community) – monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. He had eleven Gandharas (chief disciples), thirty-six thousand Aryikas (nuns), over 106,000 laymen, and 36,000 laywomen, including prominent figures like Sulasa. The hymn praises this large following and pays homage to the Sangha. It describes Mahavir's wandering, his arrival in Papanagari, and his liberation from all karmas, attaining Moksha (liberation).
Date and Place of Composition (Stanza 38): The hymn was composed on Diwali, Thursday, in the month of Asho, near Thambhan (modern Thane) in Trambavati.

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Conclusion and Blessing (Stanza 39-41): The hymn concludes by stating that praising the final Tirthankara, Mahavir, brings great happiness and prosperity. The teaching of Mahavir, like the pure water of the Ganges, continues to flow today. The hymn ends with a reference to the true Tapa Gachchha lineage, tracing it back to Acharya Vijaysen Suri and mentioning Rishabh as the disciple, emphasizing the blessings associated with Mahavir's name.
Glossary of Words: A glossary is provided to explain certain archaic or specialized Gujarati words used in the text, such as Nahisar (Mahavir's childhood name), Lokantik (a type of celestial being), Ashok (the Ashok tree), Samavasarana, Atishay (miraculous signs), Bhring (bee), Durabhiksha (famine), Kushala (skilled), Mainagala (elephant), etc.

Key Takeaways:

Devotional Focus: The primary purpose is to extol the virtues and spiritual journey of Lord Mahavir.
Biographical Elements: The hymn covers significant events in Mahavir's life, from his birth and princely life to his renunciation, enlightenment, and liberation.
Symbolic Descriptions: The Samavasarana is described in detail, symbolizing the divine order and the comprehensive nature of Mahavir's teachings.
Ethical Teachings: The text highlights Mahavir's triumph over negative passions and pride, serving as a moral guide for devotees.
Linguistic Value: The use of contemporary spoken language makes it a valuable resource for understanding historical Gujarati.
Community Aspect: The mention of the four-fold Sangha emphasizes the importance of the spiritual community established by Mahavir.