Parshwanathstotram - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Parshwanathstotram" by Vinaysagar, focusing on the excerpt from the catalog link:

The excerpt introduces and presents a "Parshwanathstotram" (hymn to Lord Parshwanath) attributed to Acharya Shri Jinraj Suri (the first).

Key aspects highlighted in the introduction:

Author: Acharya Shri Jinraj Suri (the first).
Literary Style: The hymn uses the Vasantatilaka meter and employs the metaphor of Lord Parshwanath's face ('vadan') as its central theme. It also features instances of rhyme (yamak) and other poetic figures (alankars).
Attribution and Dating: The attribution to Shri Jinraj Suri the first is based on the discovery of a manuscript of this work in the Shri Jinbhadra Suri Gyan Bhandar, Jaisalmer, dating back to the 16th century.
About Acharya Shri Jinraj Suri (the first):
- He was a scholar of Nyaya (logic) texts, having studied up to one and a quarter lakh (1,25,000) verses.
- He conferred the Acharya position upon three learned individuals: Suvarnaprabha, Bhuvanaratna, and Sagarachandra.
- He passed away in Devakulpatak (Delwara) in Samvat 1461 (1384 AD) through anashan aradhana (fasting and spiritual devotion).
- A statue of him was commissioned by the devotee Shravak Nanhak of Delwara and consecrated by Shri Jinvardhansuri. This statue is still present in Delwara and bears an inscription detailing its commissioning and consecration.

Summary of the Hymn's Content (based on the verses provided):

The hymn focuses on praising the divine face of Lord Parshwanath, drawing parallels with auspicious and beautiful elements of nature.

Verse 1: Praises Lord Parshwanath's face as a source of joy for gods, demi-gods, and humans, a life-giving force for auspicious intellects, and a beautiful object admired by all worlds. The speaker expresses a strong desire to worship this face.
Verse 2: Describes Lord Parshwanath's face as resembling a mirror, which, when beheld by someone in the morning, brings about an avatar of pure essence. Those who see it achieve immense auspiciousness, purity of mind, and the fulfillment of their heartfelt desires.
Verse 3: Compares the Lord's face to the sun, banishing the darkness of ignorance and "moha" (delusion) from the world. It is also likened to lotuses blooming with the light of day, bringing forth universal harmony and dispelling darkness.
Verse 4: Describes the Lord's face as radiating light like the moon, showering nectar-like rays that alleviate the heat of afflictions. The enlightened servants who behold this face receive divine status through the nectar of his glance.
Verse 5: Admires the youthful and beautiful face, comparing its essence to the nectar of the gods. The speaker desires that their own restless and troubled eyes, filled with overwhelming thirst (for spiritual solace), should become free from the heat and afflictions.
Verse 6: Questions how the gaze of beings can turn away from the Lord's lotus-like face, which is filled with immense fragrance and the radiance of virtues. It highlights the beauty of the lotus and the sweetness of the divine words that emanate from it.
Verse 7: Describes the face as beautiful as the darbha grass, sandalwood, and adorned with garlands of jewels. It blesses with auspiciousness, granting the attainment of meritorious fruits. This beautiful face, likened to a vessel of unbroken rice (akshata), is called "Jaineshwar" (Lord of Jains).
Verse 8: Compares the Lord's eyes to the petals of a pure blue lotus and his mouth to a garland of flowers. It states that the fullness of the Lord's face, rich in divine luster, is easily attainable for those with the wealth of merit and will bring about one's welfare.
Verse 9: The speaker, filled with joy from this description of the face, offers a virtuous prayer. They implore Lord Parshwanath, the ocean of compassion, to bestow compassion and a clear, benevolent gaze upon them.

The excerpt concludes with "Iti Shri Parshwanath Stotram Samaptam" (Thus ends the Shri Parshwanath Stotram), indicating it is the complete hymn as presented in this section, and the statement "Kritiriyam Shri Jinraj Surinam" (This composition is by Shri Jinraj Suri).