Nemi Stutikar Vijaysinh Suri Vishe

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Nemi Stutikar Vijaysinh Suri Vishe" by M. A. Dhaky, based on the provided pages:

This article delves into the identity and work of a Jain monk named Vijaysinh Suri, specifically focusing on his composition of a hymn to Neminath, titled "Nemisamahitdhiya". The author, M. A. Dhaky, attempts to establish Vijaysinh Suri's historical period and connect him to known historical figures and events within Jain tradition.

Key Information and Arguments Presented:

• Primary Source: The main contemporary source for Vijaysinh Suri is the "Prabhavakacharita" by Prabhachandracharya (written around 1278 CE). This work contains a "Vijaysinh Suri Charita" which, however, provides very little biographical detail.

• Early Association: Vijaysinh Suri is believed to have belonged to the tradition of the Nirgranthacharya Arya Khapata, who was associated with the city of Bhrigukachha (modern Bharuch) in its early days. The text suggests he was a "Chaityavasi Muni" (a monk residing in a temple) and that the prominent Jin Mandir of Munisuvrat at Bhrigukachha belonged to his lineage.

• Temple Reconstruction: When this Bhrigukachha temple (made of brick and wood) was destroyed by fire, Vijaysinh Suri, with financial assistance from Brahmins of Bharuch, oversaw its reconstruction.

• Pilgrimages and Poetry: Vijaysinh Suri undertook pilgrimages to Shatrunjaya and Ujjayantgiri (Girnar). The "Prabhavakacharita" narrates a legend that on Ujjayantgiri, he received a "Siddha-gutika" (a powerful pill) from Ambadevi, which transformed him into an excellent poet. It was there that he spontaneously composed a beautiful hymn to Arishtanemi (Neminath), starting with the verse "Nemisamahitdhiya". Prabhachandracharya states that this composition was available during his time.

• Dating Challenges: Prabhachandracharya does not explicitly state Vijaysinh Suri's period of existence. However, based on the mention of the reconstruction of the wooden temple of Suvrata Jin in 1116 or 1122 VS (1060 or 1066 CE) by Udayan Mantri's son, Dandnayak Amrabhatta (Aambada), the author estimates that Vijaysinh Suri could not be more than 250-300 years earlier than Amabada. This would place Vijaysinh Suri potentially before the 10th century CE, but any such dating is speculative. The article notes that there are many Jain acharyas with the name Vijaysinh, but no earlier than the 10th century CE has been definitively proven.

• Manuscript Discovery: After reviewing the work of Muni Kalyanvijayji, a palm-leaf manuscript of the hymn attributed to Vijaysinh Suri, starting with "Nemisamahitdhiya," was discovered in a Jaisalmer repository. The colophon indicates the copy was made in 1162 VS (1106 CE), definitively placing the composition and its author before this date.

• Quality of the Hymn: Prabhachandracharya describes the hymn as "Amarvaky-yukta" (containing immortal verses), which the article confirms as true upon examination. The hymn is praised for its aesthetic beauty, elegance, and sweetness, as well as its devotional sentiment and feeling of refuge. The opening and closing verses are quoted to illustrate its poetic excellence.

• Stylistic Analysis: Despite its quality, the hymn's style, form, and meter do not appear to be ancient, suggesting a composition from the early medieval period, specifically the 10th-11th century CE. The name "Vijaysinh" itself is also not indicative of an era significantly older than the medieval period.

• Identification with other Vijaysinhs: The article explores the possibility of identifying the hymn's author with two other prominent Vijaysinhs from the medieval period:

  1. Vijaysinh, disciple of Samudrasuri of the Nagendra Kula: He composed the Prakrit work "Bhuvanasundari Katha" in 975 VS (1853 CE). The proximity of Prabhas to Girnar makes pilgrimage plausible, but there's no indication he was the custodian of the Bhrigukachha temple. He also belonged to a different lineage and no Sanskrit works are attributed to him.
  2. Vijaysinh, the "Khagacharya" mentioned by Sodhala: Sodhala, a Kavyastha poet from Vallabhi, mentions Vijaysinh as his friend in his Sanskrit work "Udayasundari Katha." Sodhala notes that King Nagardjuna bestowed the title "Khagacharya" upon Vijaysinh for his skill in composing "Khadgakavyas" (epic poems or poems of martial valor). Since King Nagardjuna of Shilahara dynasty has a confirmed date of 1039 CE, this Vijaysinh would have lived in the first half of the 11th century CE.

• Stronger Evidence for "Khagacharya" Identification: The article argues that the latter Vijaysinh, the "Khagacharya," is the more likely author of the Neminath hymn. Reasons include:

  • He was a skilled Sanskrit poet, fitting the description of the hymn's quality.
  • It would have been easy for him to travel from the Lata region to Thana (Thane), the capital of North Konkan under the Shilahara rulers, where he was known.
  • The quality of the hymn aligns with the reputation of the "Khagacharya."
  • The conclusion that the "Khagacharya" Vijaysinh, the Swetambar monk poet, is the author of "Nemisamahitdhiya" and is identical with the Bhrigukachha temple custodian Vijaysinh seems sound, with no objections arising at the time of writing.

• No Direct Evidence for Ujjayantgiri Dedication: While the hymn is to Neminath, there's no direct evidence within the text itself stating it was composed for the Neminath at Ujjayantgiri. However, two verses suggest a particular, well-known idol of Neminath was present, making the attribution to Neminath of Girnar (Ujjayantgiri) highly plausible.

• Bharuch Temples: The article mentions that Bharuch had a famous temple of Suvrata Jin and a temple of Vira Jin in 1168 VS (1112 CE), but no specific temple of Neminath is known from any source. This, paradoxically, doesn't negate the "Prabhavakacharita" author's claim that the hymn was addressed to Neminath of Girnar. The literary reference predates the renovation of the Neminath tirtha at Girnar by Sajjan Mantri in 1185 VS (1129 CE) by about a century, thus strengthening the evidence for an older idol and temple at Girnar.

• Resolution of Conflicting Views: The article addresses the assertion by Muni Chaturvijayji that there were multiple Vijaysinh Suris, which he used to avoid making definitive claims about the Neminath hymn's author. It also counters Pandit Ambalal Premchand Shah's statement that no poems by "Khagacharya Vijaysinh" were available. The author concludes that the "Vijaysinhacharya," custodian of the Bhrigukachha Jin Munisuvrat temple, is indeed the same as the "Khagacharya Vijaysinh" honored by the Shilahara king, and that the hymn "Nemisamahitdhiya" is his composition.

• Rejection of Alternate Identification: The author briefly considers the possibility that Vijaysinh Suri of the Tharadra Gachha in Patan, mentioned by Pandit Ambalal Premchand Shah, might be the hymn's author. However, this is deemed unlikely because:

  • His guru, Shantisuri, died on Ujjayantgiri in 1096 VS (1040 CE), implying his guru's period was the late 10th or early 11th century CE, making him older than the Shilahara King Nagardjuna.
  • There's no indication he traveled to Konkan or was a high-caliber poet.
  • There's no evidence he belonged to the Tharadra Gachha.

In conclusion, the article strongly argues that the Jain monk Vijaysinh Suri, a custodian of the temple at Bhrigukachha and a celebrated poet known as "Khagacharya," is the author of the hymn "Nemisamahitdhiya," likely composed in the 11th century CE, and that this hymn was addressed to Neminath of Girnar.