Prakirna Stavano - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Prakirna Stavano" by Bhuvanchandravijay, based on the pages you've shared:

The book "Prakirna Stavano" by Upadhyay Bhuvanchandravijay presents a collection of devotional hymns (Stavano) compiled from various Prakirna (miscellaneous) manuscripts. The collection aims to preserve the original language and older forms of these compositions, which might not be found in later copies.

The compiler notes that these hymns showcase the poetic skill of their creators, who were well-known poets. The text highlights the beauty of older Gujarati dialects and the natural flow of the poets' pens in expressing heartfelt emotions. It also points out the presence of archaic word forms, such as 'paudarau' for 'padharo' (welcome) and 'paragaraj' for 'paragaraju' (pervasive), which are faithfully retained.

The summary then delves into specific hymns included in the collection:

Shri Godi Parshvanath Stavan: This hymn is composed in a master-servant (Swami-Sevak) sentiment. It beautifully expresses requests, pleas, and even gentle admonishments to the Lord in sweet words. The core themes are deep devotion and surrender to the Lord. Notably, the author's name is not mentioned for this particular stavan.
Shri Bhiladiya Parshvanath Stavan: This stavan focuses on narrating incidents from the life of Lord Parshvanath. The literary aspect is considered minimal. There's no mention of the village Bhiladi or the pilgrimage site itself. The author suggests the possibility that the poet composed this hymn during a visit to the pilgrimage. The hymn recounts the story of Lord Parshvanath's penance, the snake Kamath's anger, and how Lord Parshvanath was protected by the serpent king (Dharanendra) from the deluge caused by the celestial Indra. The hymn concludes with Lord Parshvanath attaining Keval Gyan (omniscience) and final liberation.
Shri Sambhavnath Stavan: This hymn is composed from a spiritual perspective. It scientifically describes the lifecycle and existential states of souls across different types of beings, integrating this knowledge into the poem without compromising its poetic quality. The style is reminiscent of the stavanos by Upadhyay Devchandji Maharaj.
Panchtirthi Stavan: This hymn is a heartfelt ode to five sacred Jain pilgrimage sites: Shatrunjaya, Diu, Girnar, Jiravala, and Sachor. It suggests that the poet, Lavanyasamay, had a special affection for these five holy places. The summary includes verses dedicated to each of these Tirthas, praising their significance and the merits of visiting and worshipping at them.

The text also provides transliterations and transcriptions of some of the hymns, such as the "Shri Godi Parshvanath Stavan" and "Shri Bhiladiya Parshvanath Stavan," along with a glossary of some of the older Gujarati words used.

In essence, "Prakirna Stavano" is presented as a valuable collection for its preservation of older Jain devotional literature, showcasing both its linguistic nuances and its profound spiritual and poetic content.