Prabandh Chintamani Ka Ek Acharchit Prabandh

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Prabandh Chintamani ka Ek Acharchit Prabandh" by Shivprasad Gupta:

The article discusses a lesser-known prabandh (narrative tale) from the renowned Jain text Prabandh Chintamani by Acharya Merutunga (composed in 1362 VS / 1305 CE). This particular prabandh is titled "Govardhananripaprabandh" and its summary is as follows:

The Story of King Govardhana:

King Govardhana ruled in the Chola country and was known for his great sense of justice. Due to his popularity, he had a golden bell hung at the entrance of his palace, which people could ring to bring their grievances to him.

One day, a deity wished to test the king's righteousness. The deity appeared in the form of a cow accompanied by its calf. While the king's son was driving a chariot on the royal road, the calf accidentally came under the chariot's wheel and was crushed to death.

The grieving cow then went to the king's palace and narrated the incident. The king, seeking justice, became a charioteer himself the next day and drove the chariot, placing his own son under the wheel. The chariot's wheel passed over the prince, but he did not die. At that moment, the deity appeared, praised the king's impartiality, and blessed him with a long reign.

Comparison with Other Sources:

The article notes that a similar narrative is found in the ancient collection of prabandhs, Pauratanaprabandhasangraha (edited by Jinavijaya Muni). However, in that version, the king's name is given as Yashovarman, and he is identified as the king of Kalyana Kataka.

Published Editions of Prabandh Chintamani:

The author lists several published editions of Prabandh Chintamani, including English translations and Gujarati and Hindi translations, but points out that none of these editions discuss the "Govardhananripaprabandh" in any detail.

Identifying the Origin of the Narrative:

Since Merutunga attributes the "Govardhananripaprabandh" to the Chola country, the author believes the source of this narrative should be sought in the Tamil region.

The article then presents compelling evidence from Tamil Nadu:

• Tiruvavur Temple: In Tiruvavur, a pilgrimage site in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, there is an ancient Shiva temple dedicated to Thyagaraja Swami.
• Temple Sculpture: Near the eastern gopuram (temple tower) of this temple, there is a stone carving of a chariot with four wheels, being driven by a person. Under the chariot's wheel lies a child.
• Inscriptions: A narrative related to this depiction is inscribed on the northern wall of the temple's second enclosure. This inscription was made during the fifth year of the reign of the Chola king Vikram Chola (1118-1135 CE), specifically in 1122-23 CE.
• Literary References: Similar narratives are also found in ancient Tamil literature such as Shilappadikaram (5th-6th century CE) and Periya Puranam (12th century CE).

Conclusion:

Based on this evidence, the author concludes that the narrative of King Govardhana in Prabandh Chintamani likely originated from this Tamil tradition. The mention of Kalyani in Pauratanaprabandhasangraha might indicate a confusion in the original source material or a misinterpretation by the composer of that collection regarding the geographical origin of the story. While Kalyani is in South India, the clear source has been identified in the Chola region. The author suggests that Merutunga might have been mistaken about the original country of this story or that his source text may have contained some inaccuracies.