Pramukh Aetihasik Jain Purush Aur Mahilaye - Book Summary

Based on the provided table of contents and the introduction from the book "Pramukh Aitihasik Jain Purush aur Mahilaye" by Jyoti Prasad Jain, here's a comprehensive summary in English:

Book Title: Pramukh Aitihasik Jain Purush aur Mahilaye (Eminent Historical Jain Men and Women) Author: Dr. Jyoti Prasad Jain Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

Overall Purpose and Scope:

This book aims to provide a historical overview and biographical sketches of significant Jain men and women throughout Indian history. It emphasizes the importance of history for understanding and preserving one's identity, cultural heritage, and for drawing inspiration. The author highlights the historical "amnesia" or lack of interest within the Jain community regarding their own past and seeks to rectify this by presenting a detailed account of influential Jain figures from the time of Mahavir Swami up to the modern era, roughly coinciding with India's independence in 1947. The book focuses on individuals who made significant contributions to Jainism, Indian society, culture, politics, and arts.

Key Themes and Structure:

The book is structured chronologically, tracing the influence of Jainism and its followers through various major historical periods of India. It begins with an introductory section on the utility of history and a prelude to the Jain chronological framework, moving through the eras of:

Mahavir-Yug (600-500 BCE): This section covers the immediate circle of Lord Mahavir, including his relatives, prominent disciples, and contemporary rulers who were influenced by him. Notable figures include King Chetak, Senapati Singhbhadra, Queen Mrigavati, Mahasati Chandana, King Chandpradyota and Shivadevi, King Udāyan and Queen Prabhavati, Shrenik Bimbisār, Queen Chetana, Minister Abhay, Kunik Ajātrashatru, and Maharaja Jivandhar. It also mentions significant lay devotees like Sudarshan Seth, Dhanna-Shalibhadra, Jambukumar.
Nanda-Maurya Yug (circa 500-200 BCE): This period covers the influence of Jainism during the rise of the Nanda and Maurya empires. Key figures mentioned are Emperor Chandragupta Maurya and his minister Chanakya, Bindusar Amitraghāta, Ashoka the Great, Karuṇ Kuṇāl, Emperor Samprati, and Shālishuk Maurya. The text likely highlights their patronage or influence on Jainism.
Khāravel-Vikram Yug (circa 200 BCE - 200 CE): This era features prominent rulers and individuals associated with Jainism. Emperor Khāravel of Kalinga is a central figure, known for his patronage. The section also includes references to Yavanrāj Menander, Queen Urvaśī, Maharaja Āshādsena, and Vīra Vikramāditya, along with rulers from various dynasties like the Satavahanas, Bhadra-shtavanshas, Shakas, and Kushanas.
Ganga, Kadamba, Pallava, Chalukya Dynasties (Post-Maurya Southern Dynasties): This extensive section details the role of Jainism and its patrons within the powerful kingdoms of South India. It lists numerous kings and queens from the Ganga dynasty (from its founders Daddiga and Madhava to the later rulers like Chāmuṇḍarāya), the Kadambas (Kakutstha Varma, Mrigesh Varma, Ravivarma), the Pallavas, and the Western Chalukyas of Datāpi and Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi (including Ammarāja, Vimalāditya, and Maharani TRIK - though the last part appears incomplete). The emphasis is on their contributions to Jainism and society.
Rashtrakuta, Chola, Later Chalukya, Kalachuri Dynasties: This section continues the chronicle of South Indian rulers and their Jain connections, covering figures like Govinda III, Jagattunga, Amoghavarsha I, Dhruva Dhārāvarsha, Krishna II, Indragana III, Queen Jākkiyā, Krishna III, Mahāmātya Bharata and Minister Nanna, Khottiga Govinda II, Indragana IV. It also touches upon later Chola rulers, Chalukyas of Kalyāṇī (Tailapa II, Alimbe, Satyāśraya Irikhvedanga, Jayasimha II, Someshvara I, Someshvara II, Vikramaditya VI), and Kalachuri figures.
Former Medieval South Indian Sub-states and Feudatories: This section delves into various smaller kingdoms and feudatory powers in South India during the post-Rashtrakuta period, including the later Ganga rulers, Santara rulers of Humcha (Jainadattarāya, Lolapuruṣa-Vikramasāstra, Vīraseva Sāntara, Queen Chāgildevī), Ratta rulers of Saundatti, Shilaharas of Konkan, Chalukyas of Sangamdhara, Kadambas of Nagar Khanda, Kongu rulers, Gangas of Mangavadi, Kākatiyas of Vālapāda, and Yadavas of Devagiri. It highlights the Jain connections of these dynasties.
North India (circa 200 CE - 1250 CE): This part shifts focus to North India during the Nag-Vakataka, Gupta, Harshavardhana, Gurjara-Pratihara, and Chauhan periods. It mentions figures like Maharaja Rāmagupta, Dāyakāpārdadeva, Chandragupta Vikramāditya's Navaratnas, Hūṇa ruler Tōramāṇa, Harshavardhana, Yashōvarman of Kannauj, Mihir Bhoja, and Pandit Āshādhar of Dhārā.
Early Medieval Period (circa 1200-1556 CE): This section covers the era of the Delhi Sultanate and various Rajput kingdoms, identifying Jain patrons and figures like Bīsal Sāhu, Seth Pūrṇachandra, Pethadshāh, Seth Divarāy, Rana Hammīrdev, Mahārāṇā Kumbhā, Seth Dhannāshāh, Rana Sāṅgā, Seth Āshāshāh, and figures from the Vijayanagara Empire.
Later Medieval Period (circa 1556-1756 CE): This covers the Mughal period, highlighting interactions with Mughal emperors like Akbar, and prominent Jain figures such as Seth Dūṅgar, Mahāmātya Nanu, Karmachandra Bachhawat, Hīrānanda Mukīm, Sūbhaṭputra Saṅghal, Śrāvikā Śāmadhyā, Śrāvaka Bhadra, Balabhī King Bhatark, Hūṇa King Tōramāṇa, Śrāvaka Nāthśarmā, Rājōrṣi Dēvgupta. It details figures like Raja Bhārmal, Sāhu Tōḍar, Harshachandra Seth, Sāhu Dūṅgar, Mahāmātya Nanu, Karmachandra Bachhawat, Hīrānanda Mukīm, Sabalsiṅh Motiyā, Vardhamān Kūnjī, Sāhu Bandīdās, Tārāchandra Sā., Diwān Dhannarāy, Pandit Banarsidas, Tihunā Sāhu, Vīrji Horā, Hemrāj Pāṭnī, Sāhu Rṣhabhadās, Sāhu Stagāsī, Sāhu Bhagavadāsa, Sāhu Gāgā, Mohan Dās Bhonsā, Arūṇmaṇi, Sāhu Āskaraṇ, Vardhamān Navalakhā, Sāhu Hīrānanda, Vādirāja Sogānī, Diwān Tārāchandra, Śāntidās Johārī, Sāhu Saṅgrāmasiṅh, Kūvarpāla Sōnpāla, Jagatseth Ghasanā, Seth Ghasiram, Lālā Kesarīsiṅh.
Later Medieval Rajput States: This section focuses on prominent Jain individuals and their roles within the Rajput kingdoms of Rajasthan, including Mewar (Udaipur), Marwar (Jodhpur), Bikaner, Jaipur (Āmer), and others. It names figures like Bhārmal Kāvaḍiyā, Vīr Tārāchānd, Bhāmaśāh, Jīvāśāh, Akshayrāj, Dayāl Dās, Kōthārī Bhīmasī, Mehla Meghrāj, Sūratrām, Anūpsing, Pōmasiṅgh, Ratanasingh, Kishanmal, Sīṅghavī Indrarāj, Dhanarāj, and others.
Modern Era: Princely States (circa 1757-1947 CE): This part covers the period of princely states under British influence, highlighting Jain figures in Mysore, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaipur, such as Dēvarāja Arasu, Maharani Rambhā, Dēvachandra Paṇḍit, Kumār Vīrappar, Agarachand Bachhawat, Dēvīchand B., Sherasiṅh K., Gokulchand B., Pannalāl B., Somchānd Gāndhī, Sati Das, Śivadāsa, Māladas, Methā Nathjī, Lakṣhmīchānd, Jorāvarsiṅgh, Javānsiṅgh, Chakrasinh, Methā Megharāj, Mohandas Bhonsā, Arunmani, Sāhu Āskaraṇ, Vardhamān Navalakhā, Sāhu Hīrānand, Vādirāja Sogānī, Diwān Tārāchānd, Śāntidās Johārī, Sāhu Saṅgrāmasiṅh, Kūvarpāla Sōnpāla, Jagatseth Ghasanā, Seth Ghasirām, Lālā Kesarīsiṅh.
Modern Era: Territories Ruled by the British: This section deals with prominent Jain individuals in regions directly under British rule, including Jagatseth Śugunachānd, Mañju Chaudhari and Bhawānīdās Chaudhari of Kaṭak, Raja Achharāj Nāhaṭā of Lucknow, Raja Harsukhrāy and Raja Suganchānd of Delhi, Chaudhary Hirdēsāha and Siṅghai Samāsiṅh of Chanderi, Bā. Śankaralāl of Ārā, Sāhu Horīlāl of Prayāg, Sāligrām Khajānchī of Delhi, Seth of Mathura, Raja Lakṣhmaṇdās, Raja Śivaprasād, Rāybadrīkṣa of Calcutta, Deputy Kālerāy, Pandit Prabhudāsa of Ārā, Seth Mūlchand Sonī of Ajmer, Seth Vinodīrām Sethī of Jhālrāpāṭan, Seth Mānīkchānd J.P. of Bāmbay, Raja Chandaiya Hegde of Dharmasthala, R.B. Dwārkādās of Nahtaura, Sā. Girdhar Lāl Khajānchī of Delhi, Lālā Īśvarīprasād Khajānchī of Delhi, Guru Gopāldās Daraiyā of Āgrā, Seth Mathurādās Ṭaḍaiyā of Lalitpur, Sir Seth Hukmchand of Indore, Bābu Dēvakumār of Ārā, Sāhu Caṇḍīprasād of Dhāmpur, Lālā Munnelāl Kāgzī of Lucknow, R.B. Sultānsiṅgh of Delhi, Diwān Bahadur A.B. Lāl of Bāmbay, Lālā Jampūprasād of Sahāranpūr, Raja Bahādursiṅgh Sindhi of Calcutta, Mahilāratna Maganabena, J.P. of Bāmbay, Sir Motīsāgar of Delhi, S.S. Pyārelāl of Delhi, Karṇachand Māhaṛ of Calcutta, Jagamanadaral Jaīnī of Sahāranpur-Indore, Seth Bālchand Dōtī of Shōlāpur, Raja Dhyānachand of Hyderābād-Bāmbai, Sir Phūlchand Mōdhā, Sāhu Salēkhachand of Nazībābād and their descendants.

Key Figures and Eras Covered:

The book meticulously covers a vast timeline and geographical expanse, identifying Jain individuals and dynasties who played pivotal roles in shaping Indian history and culture. The author dedicates significant sections to:

Ancient Period: Lord Mahavir's era, including his family and disciples, rulers like Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, and the impactful Samprati Maurya. The significant role of Emperor Kharavel of Kalinga is prominently highlighted.
Early Medieval Period: Detailed accounts of the Ganga, Kadamba, Pallava, and Chalukya dynasties in the South, emphasizing their Jain patrons and the flourishing of Jainism under their rule. In the North, figures from the Gupta period, Harshavardhana, Gurjara-Pratiharas, Tomaras, Chauhans, and Parmars are discussed.
Medieval Period: This extensive section covers the impact of Jainism during the Delhi Sultanate, various Rajput kingdoms (Mewar, Marwar, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer), the Vijayanagara Empire, and the influence of Jain figures in regions like Gujarat (Anhilwara, Patan), Malwa, and Bundelkhand. Prominent merchants, ministers, generals, scholars, and rulers are discussed, such as Vimal Shah, Jaishingh Siddharāj, Kumārapāla, Lōlaśāh, Jagadūśāh, Bhāmaśāh, Sangram Singh, and many others.
Later Medieval and Mughal Period: Figures who interacted with or influenced the Mughal emperors, particularly Akbar, are detailed, including Karmachandra Bachhawat and Hīrānanda Mukīm.
Modern Era: This section covers Jain patrons and influential figures during the period of princely states and British rule, highlighting their contributions to social reform, education, and the preservation of Jain heritage.

Methodology and Approach:

Dr. Jyoti Prasad Jain relies on a wide range of sources, including traditional Jain literature (like Puranas, Charitra Kavyas), inscriptions, copper-plate grants, ancient Tamil literature, Southern Indian traditions, and even Greek accounts (like Megasthenes) where they corroborate Jain traditions. The author acknowledges potential exaggerations in literary traditions but asserts the historical basis of most figures discussed. The book aims for an impartial presentation of historical facts and figures, attempting to correct misconceptions about Jain history.

Significance:

"Pramukh Aitihasik Jain Purush aur Mahilaye" is presented as a vital resource for understanding the significant, yet often overlooked, contributions of Jain individuals to India's multi-faceted history and culture. It aims to inspire pride and provide a foundational understanding of Jain heritage for the Jain community and the broader public interested in Indian history. The book serves as a testament to the enduring influence of Jainism through its historical adherents.