Mewad Me Sanskruti Sahitya Ki Jain Parampara - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Mewad me Sanskruti Sahitya ki Jain Parampara" (The Jain Tradition in Sanskrit Literature of Mewar) by Prem Suman Jain:

This text highlights the significant and continuous contribution of Jain monks and lay scholars to Sanskrit literature in the Mewar region of India, spanning from ancient times to the modern era. While Jain literature initially flourished in Prakrit and Apabhramsha, the focus here is on the substantial body of work composed in Sanskrit by Jains.

Early Contributions and Centers of Learning:

Early Inscriptions: The earliest Sanskrit literary output from Mewar found are inscriptions and prashastis (eulogies).
5th Century: Jain monk Siddhasen is credited with writing the first independent Sanskrit works in Mewar. His primary center of literary activity was Chittor. He authored 21 Dvattriishikaas (works with 32 verses each) and Nyayavataar, a treatise on Jain logic in Sanskrit.
8th Century: Chittor became a prominent hub for Jain Sanskrit literary pursuits. Acharya Haribhadra Suri, whose spiritual and intellectual journey was rooted in Mewar, composed numerous Sanskrit commentaries on ancient texts. His significant original Sanskrit works include Dharmabindu, Ashtakaprakarana, and Shaddarshanasamucchaya.
Expansion of Literary Activity: From Haribhadra Suri's time, Chittor attracted other Jain monks. Acharya Elacharya and his disciple Veersen further enriched Mewar's Sanskrit literature. Veersen's Dhavala-Tika is a massive Sanskrit work. Veersen's disciple, Jinasen, also composed Sanskrit poetic works, including Paarshvabhyudaya and Aadipurana, which showcased new experiments in Sanskrit poetry and ornamentation.
Paarshvabhyudaya: Jinasen's Paarshvabhyudaya draws inspiration from Kalidasa's Meghaduta, creatively expanding upon its verses and exhibiting the poet's originality in depicting scenes.
Aadipurana: Jinasen wrote Aadipurana in the style of the Mahabharata, encapsulating the entire Indian culture of the 8th century.

Later Literary Flourishing and Prominent Scholars:

Jinvallabh Suri and Disciples: Jain monk Jinvallabh Suri and his disciples were highly respected Sanskrit poets in Mewar. They produced 15-20 Sanskrit works, which, though religious in theme, were rich in poetic elements. Jinvallabh Suri's Shrringara Shataka is notable as a rare erotic poem by a Jain monk.
Jindatta Suri: Jinvallabh Suri's disciple, Jindatta Suri, also authored several Sanskrit works imbued with devotional sentiment.
Mandalgarh: Similar to Chittor, Mandalgarh also emerged as a center for Jain monks' literary endeavors.
Mahakavi Ashadhar (13th Century): A native of Mandalgarh, Mahakavi Ashadhar authored significant Sanskrit works like Adhyatmarahasya, Saagaradharmamrita, Anagaradharmamrita, and Jinyajnakalpa. His writings aimed to instill morality in daily human conduct and are considered encyclopedias of Jain conduct.
Bhattarak Tradition (15th Century onwards): Jain Bhattarakas significantly contributed to enriching Mewar's Sanskrit literature. Scholars like Bhattarak Sakalkirti, Bhuvanakirti, Brahmjindas, Shubhandra, and Bhattarak Prabhachandra wrote hundreds of Sanskrit works. These works not only held poetic value but also contained valuable historical material about Mewar.
Establishment of Libraries: These Bhattarakas established Jain manuscript libraries in places like Chittor, Udaipur, and Rishabhdev, ensuring the preservation of Mewar's Sanskrit literature. Their principal centers of activity included Chittor and villages in the Dungarpur district.
Bhattarak Sakalkirti: Bhattarak Sakalkirti was a prolific poet who penned 25-30 Sanskrit works, covering genres like Puranas, stories, biographies, and hymns. He believed literature should uplift human life. In his Aadipurana, he states that a true scripture is one that, upon hearing, purges listeners of attachments, aversions, and delusions, replacing them with virtues like right faith, knowledge, and conduct, and fostering practices like charity, worship, and meditation.
Accessibility of Sanskrit: Sakalkirti's writings suggest that Sanskrit was understood by all sections of society, and there were arrangements for reading and studying Sanskrit texts. He explicitly mentions writing in Sanskrit to impart essential knowledge to children, women, and the elderly.

Poetic Centers and Notable Poets:

Ranankpur and Dilwara: Ranankpur and Dilwara were also significant centers for Jain monks' literary pursuits. Muni Somasundar received the title of Vachak in Ranankpur and composed several Sanskrit works while residing in Dilwara.
Somdev Vachak: Somdev Vachak, a disciple of Muni Somasundar, was honored with the title of "Kaviraj" by Maharana Kumbha.
Pratisthasom: Contemporaneous with Maharana Kumbha, Mahakavi Pratisthasom wrote the renowned Sanskrit works Somasaubhagya Kavya and Gunaratnakara, offering authentic insights into Mewar's culture of that period.
15th Century Poets: Notable Jain poets of the 15th century include Mahopadhyaya Charitraratnagani and Jinharsahggani, who composed Sanskrit poetry in Chittor. Jinharsahggani's Vastupal Charitra is a historical epic.
Vagbhatta: Jain poet Vagbhatta in Mewar authored works on prosody (Chhandashastra) and poetics (Kavyshastra).

Inscriptions and Historical Significance:

Prashastis: In addition to independent poetic works, Jain monks in Mewar also composed numerous Sanskrit prashastis.
Ramkirti (12th Century): Ramkirti wrote a prashasti in Chittorgarh describing Kumarapala's visit.
Acharya Ratnaprabha Suri: In V.S. 1322, Acharya Ratnaprabha Suri wrote a prashasti near Chittor at Ghaghse ki Bawari. He also composed another prashasti in Chikha village, which, in 15 verses, narrates the valor of the Guhil dynasty's descendants of Bappa.
Gunabhadra (12th Century): Jain monk Gunabhadra wrote a prashasti for the Jain temple in Bijolia in V.S. 1226.
Charitraratnagani (15th Century): Charitraratnagani composed the Mahavir Prashasti, which includes a beautiful description of Mewar after an invocation to Saraswati.
Historical Value: These prashastis hold significant historical importance, documenting events and rulers.

Enduring Legacy and Future Potential:

Continuous Tradition: The Jain tradition of composing Sanskrit poetry in Mewar continued from the 5th to the 15th-16th centuries. Even in modern times, Jain monks have continued to write in Sanskrit.
Societal Reflection: The Sanskrit works by Jain monks offer glimpses into rural life in Mewar. Their widespread interactions with all sections of society allowed them to depict customs, attire, festivals, and lifestyles authentically.
Art of Poetry: Jain monks were dedicated to Sanskrit poetry composition across generations. They believed that true poetry was that which enabled other poets to compose, akin to how the fragrance of a sandalwood tree imbues other trees with its scent. This philosophy fostered many centers of Sanskrit poetry creation in Mewar, managed by Jain monks.
Call for Preservation: The author emphasizes the need to collect and publish the Sanskrit works of these Jain monks, which would not only enrich the history of Sanskrit poetry but also reveal various facets of Mewar's culture. The text highlights the need to explore the "jewels of poetry" lying in the manuscript libraries of the region.

In essence, the book "Mewad me Sanskruti Sahitya ki Jain Parampara" meticulously traces the profound and enduring impact of Jain monks and scholars on the rich tapestry of Sanskrit literature in Mewar, underscoring their role as custodians of cultural heritage and literary excellence.