Nemichandra Suri Aur Unke Granth

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, focusing on Acharya Nemichandrasuri and his works:

The text, "Acharya Nemichandrasuri Aur Unke Granth" by Hukamchand Jain, is a scholarly piece that delves into the life, lineage, and literary contributions of the prominent Jain scholar and author, Acharya Nemichandrasuri, also known by his pre-ascetic name Devendragani.

Key Points:

• Place in Jain Literature: Nemichandrasuri is recognized as a distinguished storyteller and author of biographical literature within the vast landscape of Prakrit literature. He is mentioned alongside other notable Prakrit storytellers such as Sindhu and Dharmadasa Gani (Vasudevahindi), Haribhadrasuri (Samaraiccaha and Dhurtakhyana), Udyotanasuri (Kuvalayamala), Jinesvarasuri (Nirvanalilavati Katha and Kathakosha Prakarana), Jinasena (Sanveg rangamala), Mahesvara Suri (Nanpanchakaha), Devabhadrasuri or Gunachandrasuri (Kaharaynakosha), Mahendrasuri (Nakhamanasundari Katha), and Somaprabhasuri (Kumarapal-pratibodha).

• Guru Parampara (Lineage of Teachers):

  • Acharya Nemichandrasuri belonged to the Chandrakula of the Brihadgaccha.
  • His immediate guru was Upadhyaya Amradeva.
  • His pre-ascetic name was Devendragani.
  • He was a spiritual brother (dharma-sahodara) to Muni Chandrasuri.
  • The text traces his lineage back to Devasuri, who had four prominent disciples: Udyotanasuri, Jasadevasuri, Pradyumnasuri, and Acharya Mandevasuri. These four are considered contemporaries.
  • Udyotanasuri's disciple was Upadhyaya Amradeva.
  • Amradeva's disciple was Devendragani (Nemichandrasuri).
  • The lineage is presented as: Devasuri → Udyotanasuri → Upadhyaya Amradeva → Devendragani (Nemichandrasuri).
  • The text cites the prologue of Ratnachudachariya and the prologue of Akhyana Manikosha as sources for this guru tradition, with further clarification provided by the research of Pt. Muni Punyavijaya.

• Author's Humility (Laghava): In his auspicious opening (Mangalacharana), Nemichandrasuri displays humility by acknowledging that even with other stories available, his own might be considered humorous by learned individuals. He uses the analogy of a crow accompanying a swan to illustrate this point. However, he also expresses hope that virtuous individuals will appreciate his efforts and help refine any flaws in his work. He states that he undertook the study of poetry ("kavya") and composed this story primarily to follow in the footsteps of his esteemed gurus, even without full mastery of poetic composition.

• Time Period: Acharya Nemichandrasuri (Devendragani) is generally placed in the 12th century Vikram Samvat.

  • His earliest known work is Akhyana Manikosha, written around V.S. 1126.
  • His latest work mentioned is Mahavirachariyam, written around V.S. 1141.
  • The text notes that based on these dates, his overall period of activity is considered to be the 12th century V.S.

• Place of Work: While no definitive proof of his birthplace is found in his works, the prologue of his Ratnachudachariya indicates that this work was started in Didilpada Nivesa and completed in Chadavaliipura. Chadavaliipura is identified with present-day Chandravati. The Sukhabodha commentary on the Uttaradhyayana Sutra was written in Anahilapatan (Gujarat). Given the mention of Anahilapatan and the historical context of Vimal Mantri's patronage of the Abu Jain temple (also from the 12th century V.S.), it is inferred that his area of work spanned Gujarat and Rajasthan.

• Major Works: Nemichandrasuri authored five major works, with mentions in other texts suggesting potential additional compositions.

  1. Akhyana Manikosha: Described as a "treasury of stories," this work consists of 52 verses (gathas). It lists 41 chapters and 146 stories, though some are repetitions, bringing the actual number to 127. The work demonstrates the author's proficiency in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Apabhramsa. It includes stories categorized by themes like intellectual prowess (e.g., Bharat, Naimittika, Abhaya), charity (e.g., Vandana, Muladeva, Nagashri Brahmin), and the glory of chastity (e.g., Damayanti, Sita, Rohini). Some stories, like the Bakula story, are also found in his Ratnachudachariya.
  2. Atma Bodhakulaka or Dharmopadesha Kulam: This is a shorter work, perhaps only 22 Aryachandas. While mentioned in the prologue of Anantanathacharitam by his disciple Amradeva, it's possible Nemichandrasuri himself didn't consider it significant enough for explicit mention in all his prologues. The concluding verses of Akhyana Manikosha and Atma Bodhakulaka suggest a common author.
  3. Uttaradhyayana Vritti (Sukhabodha): This commentary on the Uttaradhyayana Sutra was completed in V.S. 1126 in Anahilapatan. It contains approximately 125 Prakrit stories, including romantic tales, animal fables, stories emphasizing the conduct of Jain monks, didactic narratives, and fantastical accounts of princesses turning into monkeys or princes being carried away by elephants. These stories serve as examples for various circumstances. The commentary is based on Shantyaacharya's Shishyahrida and is named Sukhabodha for its simplicity and clarity. It is estimated to be around 13,000 verses in length.
  4. Ratnachuda Katha (Ratnachudachariya): This is a prose and verse work in Prakrit, written after he attained the title of Gani, thus after V.S. 1126. It's also known as Ratnachudakatha or Tilak Sundari Ratnachuda Kathana. It's a folk tale linked to the principles of karmic consequences. The narrative is divided into three parts: the previous lives of Ratnachuda, his birth and marriage to Tilak Sundari (including subduing an elephant), and his eventual renunciation with his family and adoption of vows. The story details his previous life as Bakula, a flower gardener who offered flowers to Rishabhadeva, leading to his rebirth as Ratnachuda. It describes his adventures, marriages to five princesses, acquisition of various Siddhis, and eventual attainment of liberation.
  5. Mahavirachariyam: This metrical work on the life of Lord Mahavira was completed in V.S. 1141 in a place built by Dohadi Seth in Patan. It comprises 2385 verses and is approximately 3000 grantha units in size. The narrative begins with the story of Marichi, a religious layman in a previous birth and grandson of Bharat Chakravarti, who was a devout follower of Ahimsa. Later, as Marichi, son of Bharat Chakravarti, he hears Lord Rishabhadeva prophesy that he will be the last Tirthankara. This leads to pride and a deviation from right faith, resulting in many births of wandering and spiritual decline. The text highlights the importance of devotion and worship, quoting Pujashtaka and Pujaprakasha, which describe the efficacy of worship in removing sins, bringing welfare, and alleviating poverty.

• Cultural and Linguistic Significance:

  • Nemichandrasuri's works hold significant cultural value, depicting aspects like sea voyages, names of islands (e.g., Kathah island), incantations, mystic powers (Riddhis and Siddhis), and various Vidyas (e.g., Stambini, Talodghatini, flight-carrying, Vaitaalika Vidya).
  • They offer beautiful descriptions of cities, temples, mountains, and seasons.
  • Linguistically, his works provide rich material for studying the interplay of Prakrit, Sanskrit, Apabhramsa, and indigenous words.
  • The narratives often employ established plot devices and proverbs, with embedded sub-stories supporting the main plot.
  • The elegant language, style, and ornate poetic descriptions enhance the beauty of his works without hindering the narrative flow. These works also contain moral and didactic stories.

The author concludes by mentioning that the Ratnachudachariya is currently being studied and edited by the present author, which may shed new light on the personality and works of Acharya Nemichandrasuri (Devendragani).