Rajasthani Jain Sahityakar

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Rajasthani Jain Sahityakar" by Ramesh Kumar Jain, focusing on Rajasthani Jain Literature:

The book "Rajasthani Jain Sahityakar" by Ramesh Kumar Jain highlights the immense richness and superiority of Rajasthani Jain literature, stating it surpasses even Charana literature in both volume and quality. The author then elaborates on the distinctive characteristics of this literature.

Key Features of Rajasthani Jain Literature:

• Accessible Language: Unlike other literatures that sometimes deliberately complicate their language, Jain scholars wrote in the common people's language, making it simple and understandable.
• Focus on Moral and Spiritual Upliftment: Jain literature is abundant in works that aim to elevate human life to a higher plane. As Jain monks were not dependent on kings or patrons, they were free from the need for exaggerated praise. Their dharma did not involve encouraging warfare or promoting indulgence through sensuous literature. Instead, they focused on literature beneficial to the public and aimed at spiritual awakening and ethical living.
• Predominance of Shanta Rasa (Peaceful Emotion): While Charana literature is primarily filled with Veer Rasa (heroic emotion) and then Shringar Rasa (erotic emotion), Jain literature is predominantly religious and ethical, with Shanta Rasa evident throughout.
• Emphasis on Narrative and Didactic Content: Jain writers largely adopted narrative literature to convey the essence of their religion. Recognizing that philosophical concepts can be dry and difficult for the common populace, they used stories and examples to explain dharma. They found narratives to be the most effective medium for quickly propagating religious teachings on topics like penance, charity, good conduct, and religious vows.
• Historical Accounts of Great Figures: Following narrative works, they produced historical epics about Jain Tirthankaras and Acharyas, presenting ideals of great personalities for the public. These literary forms inspired people to improve their lives and fill them with moral and religious principles.
• Linguistic and Historical Significance: Rajasthani Jain literature holds significant importance from a linguistic perspective. Furthermore, it fills the void of independently available non-Jain Rajasthani texts from the 13th to 15th centuries.
• Beyond Religious Subjects: Contrary to the misconception that Jain literature is solely about Jainism and not useful to the general public, the book emphasizes that many Rajasthani Jain texts are written with a universal appeal and are not confined to religious topics.

Diverse Genres and Subjects Covered:

The book lists a wide array of subjects and genres that Rajasthani Jain scholars contributed to:

• Grammar: Works like "Bal Shiksha," "Ukti Ratnakar," and "Hem Vyakarana Bhasha Tika."
• Prosody (Chhand Shastra): Compositions like "Pingal Shiromani" and "Vrutta Ratnakar Balavbodh."
• Rhetoric (Alankar Shastra): Books such as "Vagbhattalamkar Balavbodh" and "Viddagdh Mukh-mandal Balavbodh."
• Commentaries on Poetry: Interpretations of texts like "Bhartrihari Shatak," "Amaru Shatak," and "Kishana-Rukmani."
• Medical Science (Vaidyak Shastra): Commentaries on medical texts like "Madhava Nidana Tappa" and "Vaiddya Jeevan Tappa."
• Mathematics (Ganita Shastra): Works like "Lilavati Bhasha Chaupai."
• Astrology (Jyotish Shastra): Numerous texts on horoscopes, auspicious timings, and predictions, with specific mention of Kavi Heerakalash as a prominent astrologer.
• Ethics, Conduct, Education, and Knowledge: Many poets dedicated works to these subjects, including important pieces like "Chhihal Bavani" and "Doongar Bavani," which present ethical advice in colloquial language.
• Historical Works: Important historical texts like "Munhot Nainsi ki Khyat," "Rathore Amarsingh ki Bat," and "Khuman Raso" are mentioned, along with genealogies of Jain sects.
• Subhashitas (Wise Sayings): A large collection of proverbs and wise sayings that are deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of the people of Rajasthan.
• Humorous Literature: Works like "Oondar Raso" and "Makhiyan Ro Kajiyo."
• Seasonal and Festival Literature: "Barahmasas" and "Choumasas," often related to narratives of Neminath and Sthulibhadra but enriched with descriptions of seasons.
• Dialogues (Samvad): Many dialogue-based works not necessarily tied to Jainism but showcasing the wit and poetic talent of the authors.
• Hymns to Deities: Verses praising various deities, celestial bodies, and local heroes, some of whom are not directly related to Jainism.
• Praise Poetry (Stuti Kavya): A significant portion of Jain literature consists of praise poems dedicated to Tirthankaras, great Jain personalities, monks, nuns, and holy places. These are historically important and include works known as "Stavan," "Sajjhay," and "Vinti."
• Folk Narrative Literature: Jain scholars played a crucial role in preserving folk tales by incorporating them into their works. Numerous poems are based on popular folk narratives like "Dhol-Maru," "Pachyakhyan," and "Vikram Charit."
• Folk Songs: Jain scholars also composed works based on folk songs and their melodies.

Comparison with Non-Jain Rajasthani Literature:

The book asserts that Jain Rajasthani literature significantly outweighs non-Jain literature in terms of the number of substantial works. While non-Jain literature primarily consists of couplets and songs, Jain literature boasts hundreds of large compositions like "Ras" and "Chaupai," with thousands of couplets and "Dingal" songs.

Prominent Rajasthani Jain Poets:

The text introduces some key Rajasthani Jain poets and their contributions:

• Kavi Samay Sundar: A prolific poet of the 17th century, known for his vast output of songs and other literary forms.
• Jinhars (Jasraj): A major Rajasthani poet who wrote around 50 "Ras" and hundreds of smaller devotional works.
• Begaḍ Jin Samudra Suri: Another significant poet with many "Ras" and devotional works.
• Pujya Jeetamal Ji (Jayacharya): Of the Terapanth sect, his "Bhagavati Sutra ki Dhala" is considered the largest Rajasthani work with 60,000 verses.

The book also mentions other poets active in the first half of the 17th century.

Key Characteristics of Rajasthani Jain Literature (Summary):

1. Distinctive "Jan-Shaili" (Folk Style): A unique, universally recognizable style.
2. Predominantly Peaceful Emotion (Shanta Rasa).
3. Abundance of Narrative, Biographical, and Praise Poetry.
4. Strong Religious and Ethical Tone.
5. Continuous Literary Tradition: An unbroken stream of literature from the beginning through the period under review and beyond.
6. Variety of Poetic Forms: Including Ras, Chaupai, Sandhi, Charchari, Dhal, Prabandh, Charit, Sambandh, Akhyanak-Katha, Pavado, Phagu, Dhamal, Barahmasa, Vivahalo, Beli, Dhaval, Mangal, Samvad, Kakka-Matrika-Bavani, Kuluk, Hiyali, Stuti, Stavan, Stotra, Sajjhay, Mala, Vinti, Vachanika, and more.
7. Focus on Self-Upliftment: An attempt to guide individuals towards spiritual improvement in accordance with Jain principles.
8. Rich in Volume and Diversity.
9. Preservation of Folk Traditions: Jain poets are credited with keeping folk songs and specific types of folk narratives alive.
10. Multilingual Contributions: Jain poets also wrote in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Apabhramsha.
11. Preservation of Non-Jain Literature: Jain scholars and poets are also recognized for preserving a significant body of non-Jain literature.
12. Linguistic Resources: Jain literature provides ample material for linguistic study, allowing for the scientific analysis of language development over centuries.

The author concludes by emphasizing the need for a comprehensive history of Rajasthani Jain literature for systematic study, acknowledging the valuable contributions of researchers like Dr. Tessitory and Dr. Hiralal Maheshwari. The article also credits the assistance of numerous articles by Shri Agarchand Nahata.