Nemijinstuti

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Nemijinstuti" based on the provided pages:

The document presents the "Nemijinstuti" (Praise of Neminath), a hymn dedicated to Lord Neminath, the 22nd Jain Tirthankara.

Key Information about the Work:

• Author: Compiled and edited by Muni Shilchandravijay. The original hymn was composed by a devotee named Chaturbhuja.
• Commentary: The hymn is adorned with a commentary named "Prakash" (Light), written by Shri Ramachandrarshi, a disciple of Shri Amritchandrasuri of the Lokagachchha tradition.
• Language: The original hymn is in Sanskrit, composed in the "Samamatra" meter (a meter with equal syllables).
• Content: The hymn is praised for its melodious nature and beautiful phrasing, making it highly enjoyable. The style indicates the author was a learned scholar.
• Commentary Details:
  • Ramachandrarshi wrote the "Prakash" commentary to make the hymn's profound meanings easily accessible.
  • The commentary was composed in V.S. 1923 (1866 CE) in Baluchar Nagar (near Ajimganj) in the presence of Shri Amritchandrasuri.
  • The commentator is described as a scholar, evident from the commentary itself. However, his humility is highlighted in the commentary to the 6th verse, where he refers to himself as "mandamati" (of dull intellect) and requests scholars to help purify the commentary.
  • He mentions that the 6th verse of the original hymn was received by him in an impure form, suggesting the original author was significantly earlier than him.
  • Notably, the introductory auspicious verse (mangalashloka) of the commentary offers salutations not to a specific person but to the principle of "Vyapti" (pervasiveness), "Vyakti" (individuality), "Sphota" (sound/utterance), and "Siddha-Om" (the liberated soul, represented by Om).
  • The commentary also cites verses from Panini's Ashtadhyayi (a foundational text of Sanskrit grammar) for achieving proper grammatical forms.

Editing and Publication Details:

• Source Material: The presented work is an edited version compiled from a manuscript written in V.S. 1924 (1867 CE) in Baluchar Nagar.
• Challenges: The original manuscript contained many impurities, and efforts were made to correct them as much as possible.
• Editor's Note: The editor admits to lacking prior experience in editing and attributes the successful completion of this first attempt to the grace of God, Gurus, and Dharma. He requests scholars to draw attention to any remaining errors.
• Significance of Commentary: It is noted as a rare instance in history where a hymn composed by a householder (grihastha) received a commentary from a spiritual leader (shraman bhagavant).

Summary of the Hymn (Verse by Verse as explained by the commentary):

The hymn comprises several verses, each addressing Lord Neminath with various epithets highlighting his divine qualities and deeds. The commentary meticulously explains the meaning and grammatical construction of each phrase.

• Verse 1: Addresses Neminath as the ornament of the Yadava lineage, the lord of the universe, the son of King Samudravijaya and Shivadevi, and a supreme mind. It calls him the rescuer from the ocean of birth and death, and the one who conquered Indra (Hare) in the battle of the armory, even while being a Yogi.
• Verse 2: Praises him as the vajra (thunderbolt) that destroys the unassailable mountain of lust, anger, and pride. It describes his complexion as being like a dark cloud (shitala-varna) and his splendor as like the moon that illuminates the flowers of the lotus pond, bringing joy to the world. He is also depicted as the one who liberated animals from suffering at the time of marriage, likened to a cloud filled with compassion.
• Verse 3: Extols him as the one who was left by Rajimati, who was distraught by her love for him. It refers to his pure qualities, free from the blemish of sins, and how he is worshipped by all the kings of gods and demons.
• Verse 4: Describes him as one who delights in equanimity (samata) achieved through mastery of calmness (shama) and self-control (dama). He is compared to a lotus that adorns the world, and his brilliance is like the sun that banishes the darkness of false doctrines and heretics, illuminating the path of spiritual understanding for the universe.
• Verse 5: Highlights his attainment of liberation (nirvana) through his ascetic vows, controlling his senses. He is renowned for making Mount Raivataka a sacred pilgrimage site. He is the giver of desired fruits to all beings who take refuge in him and the chief of the Jinas who like a wheel (nemiriva) cuts down the forest of suffering and the states of miserable existence (durgati).
• Verse 6: A verse of personal devotion, where the speaker expresses gratitude for Neminath's darshan, considering it a fortunate day and auspicious time. They believe their desires are fulfilled, their birth is meaningful, and a sprout of detachment (desa virati) has emerged in their heart. The commentary notes this verse might be somewhat impure and difficult to interpret fully due to the speaker's perceived intellectual limitations.
• Verse 7: The speaker asks Neminath, the well-wisher of all, how he could possibly ignore them, his humble devotee, and still achieve fame. They plead to be granted his constant presence or spiritual closeness in every birth.
• Verse 8: The speaker reminds Neminath that he has protected many people by showing them his true vision. They implore him to grant them his vision now, so he may gain new glory. They further request him, their Lord, not to ask for much, but to make them solely devoted to his feet in all lives.
• Concluding Verse 9: This verse concludes the hymn, praying that Neminath, the lord of Girnar, who is constantly served by Ambika (the Yaksha accompanying him), may forever be a remover of the cycle of four births for all virtuous beings and a bestower of auspiciousness.

The text concludes with a colophon stating the completion date and location of the commentary, and acknowledgments to those involved in its preservation and dissemination.