Neminath Prabhu Charitra

The book "Neminath Prabhu Charitra" (Life of Lord Neminath) published by Atmanand Jain Sabha, Bhavnagar, is a biographical account of the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Lord Neminath. The catalog link provided is for the book hosted on jainqq.org. The text itself, sourced from Sanskritdocuments.org/TFIC, is presented with a Fair Use Declaration, emphasizing its availability for individual educational or research purposes, believing the book to be in the public domain.

The book, published in Vikram Samvat 1980 (1927 AD), is part of the "Vera Hatisang Zaverchand Granthamala" series and is the second publication in this collection. It is priced at Rs. 2/-.

Key Features and Content:

• Biographical Focus: The primary aim is to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Neminath, presenting it in a way that is easily accessible and impactful for the general populace. The preface highlights that character narratives (Charitra-anu-yog) are highly effective in conveying moral and ethical teachings, leaving a deeper impression than other forms of religious discourse.
• Inclusion of Other Lives and Characters: Beyond Neminath's own life, the book includes accounts of other significant figures and stories within Jain tradition, suchur as:
  • Sati Rajamati (Neminath's consort)
  • Lord Krishna Vasudeva
  • Nala and Damayanti
  • The Pandavas and Kauravas
  • Sati Draupadi
  • Lord Vasudeva (Krishna's father)
  • Jarasandha (a powerful adversary)
  • Other prominent personalities and virtuous women from past lives.
• Narrative Style: The book is presented in a style akin to a novel (navalkatha), making the spiritual and ethical teachings more engaging. The introduction emphasizes the importance of reading uplifting stories that instill good thoughts and aspirations, contrasting them with potentially negative influences of some contemporary literature.
• Spiritual and Moral Emphasis: The core purpose is to reveal the greatness of celibacy (Brahmacharya), austerity (tapasya), and devotion (aradhana) as fruits of past lives. It aims to increase the spiritual faith and understanding of the Jain community, while also promoting the adoption of righteous conduct and moral principles for worldly progress.
• Detailed Life Stages of Neminath: The book outlines key events in Lord Neminath's life, including his previous births, his childhood, initiation, spiritual development, discourses, family life, and eventual attainment of liberation (Moksha).
• Author and Context: The author is mentioned as Shree Gunavijayji Gani Maharaj, a disciple of Shree Kanakvijayji Patishthit, who was a successor to Shree Heervijay Surishwar. The work was initiated in Gambha, Saurashtra, in Vikram Samvat 1686 (Ashadh Panchami) and completed in Shravan (Shasti Purnima).
• Structure: The narrative is divided into thirteen chapters (Parichchhed), with a detailed index (Vishayanukramanika) at the end providing a chapter-wise summary of the content and page numbers, allowing readers to easily navigate and understand the key narratives.
• Language: The original text is in Sanskrit, but this version is a Gujarati translation, adapted into a novelistic format.

In essence, "Neminath Prabhu Charitra" serves as a didactic work that uses the life of Lord Neminath and related narratives to impart spiritual wisdom, moral guidance, and promote virtuous living within the Jain community. It aims to be both informative and inspirational, making the profound teachings of Jainism accessible through an engaging storytelling approach.