Ramrasokar Mahakavi Madhavdas Dadhivadiya - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text about Mahakavi Madhavdas Dadhivadiya:

This text, titled "Ramrasokar Mahakavi Madhavdas Dadhivadiya" by Saubhagyasinh Shekhawat, focuses on the life and work of Mahakavi Madhavdas Dadhivadiya, a prominent poet and a significant figure in Rajasthani literature. The text delves into his lineage, his patrons, his literary contributions, and clarifies several historical inaccuracies surrounding his life.

Lineage and Patronage:

Madhavdas belonged to the Deval gotra of Charan bards, specifically from the 120 branches of Charans. This branch was associated with the Sankhala Rajput dynasty.
The Sankhalas initially ruled in the Roon region of Marwar and Janglu (Bikaner). The Janglu-based Sankhalas patronized the Vit Charans, while the Roon-based Sankhalas patronized the Dadhivadiya Charans.
The Roon ruler, Raja Sodhdev Sankhala, was a contemporary of Alauddin Khilji. Alauddin forcefully married Sodhdev's daughter and weakened the Sankhalas.
During this period of Sankhala decline, Mejhajal Deval, a Dadhivadiya Charan, used his poetic prowess to appease Alauddin, calling him "Kurva Samudra" (ocean of goods). Impressed, Alauddin returned the Roon territory to the Sankhalas, leading to the Dadhivadiya branch's prominence due to their association with Roon.
Later, Rao Ranmall of Marwar seized Roon from the Sankhalas. The Dadhivadiya Charans, as the Sankhalas' bardic patrons, migrated with them to Mewar. Maharana Kumbhakarna granted two villages, Dharta and Gothiyan, to Jaita, a Dadhivadiya.
Jaita's son, Mejpa, was rewarded with the village of Shaver by Maharana Sangram Singh I after his victory over the Sultan of Mandav. Deva was granted Dharta, and Barsi remained in Gothiyan.
Madhavdas was born in the village of Baluda in Marwar, to Chuda Dadhivadiya. Chuda was a respected figure in his time.
Contrary to some scholarly opinions that Madhavdas was a patron of Maharaja Shursingh of Jodhpur, the text asserts that Madhavdas was a patron of Thakur Ramdas Chandavat Rathore of Baluda.
Chuda Dadhivadiya was made a bardic patron (Polpatra) by Rao Chanda Virambhaevot of the Mertiya Rathores. Evidence for this is found in Chuda's own verses praising Rao Chanda. Chuda received ten thousand bighas of land and other gifts from Rao Chanda for this patronage.

Literary Contributions and Relationship with Chuda:

Chuda Dadhivadiya himself was a respected poet and devotee, credited with works like "Gun Nimandha Nimandha," "Gun Chanakya Veli," "Gun Bakhadi," and various couplets (Chhappay).
Madhavdas was the son of this devoted poet, Chuda.
Madhavdas resided in the sub-village of Baluda under Thakur Ramdas. This village was established on the ten thousand bighas granted by Rao Chanda.
Madhavdas authored two significant works: "Gun Raso" and "Gajmokh." "Gajmokh" is a smaller work, while "Ram Raso" is considered the first epic poem in Rajasthani literature.
"Ram Raso," as the name suggests, is dedicated to Lord Rama. It holds a similar esteemed place in Rajasthani households as Tulsidas's "Ramcharit Manas" does in Hindi literature.
Madhavdas based "Ram Raso" on the narratives of Valmiki's Ramayana, Adhyatma Ramayana, and Hanumannatak.
There is a divergence of opinion among scholars regarding the exact number of verses in "Ram Raso" and details of Madhavdas's life.

Clarification of Historical Discrepancies:

Date of Death: Shri Sitaram Lalas suggests Madhavdas died in 1690 Vikrama Samvat (V.S.). However, the text disputes this, stating Madhavdas died on Tuesday, Jeth Sudi 8, in 1680 V.S. in the village of Mugadra. This event occurred during a battle between the royal army of Jodhpur and Merta, where Thakur Ramdas, Madhavdas, and the Bhat bard Varjang were killed. The inscription on Madhavdas's cenotaph in Baluda also corroborates the 1680 V.S. date.
Relationship with Dwarikadas: The assertion that Dwarikadas, the court poet of Maharaja Ajitsingh of Jodhpur, was Madhavdas's son is also deemed incorrect. Dwarikadas authored "Maharaja Ajitsinghki Davavat" in 1772 V.S. Since Madhavdas died in 1680 V.S., there is a 92-year gap, indicating Dwarikadas was Madhavdas's grandson, not son.
Brothers and Sons: The text clarifies that Madhavdas had a younger brother named Shyamdas. Madhavdas had two sons, Sundardas and Mohandas, who were alive until Maharaja Jasvantsingh I of Jodhpur's reign (up to 1721 V.S.). This further disproves the claim that Dwarikadas was Madhavdas's son. The text notes that such historical inaccuracies are common among scholars of Rajasthani and Hindi literature.

Further Details about "Ram Raso" and Madhavdas's Expertise:

Verse Count of "Ram Raso": Different manuscripts of "Ram Raso" show varying verse counts, likely due to multiple copies and interpolations. Some verses are also found, with minor variations, in "Prithviraj Raso" and Prakrit's "Gaha Sattasai."
Guru: Contrary to the belief that Madhavdas learned from his father, the text highlights that Madhavdas explicitly mentions his guru in the beginning of "Ram Raso" as Munivar Karmanand.
Date of Composition of "Ram Raso": The composition date of "Ram Raso" is consistently recorded as 1675 V.S. in all available manuscripts.
Influence of "Ram Raso": Despite Madhavdas living only a few years after its composition, "Ram Raso" gained significant popularity in educated families in Rajasthan due to its devotional content and its subject matter.
Connection with "Pingal Shiromani": Verses from "Ram Raso" are found in prosody texts like "Pingal Shiromani." This raises questions about the authors of "Pingal Shiromani," as the composition period of "Ram Raso" (1675 V.S.) is significantly later than the estimated period of "Pingal Shiromani" (before 1618 V.S.). This discrepancy also casts doubt on the established composition date of "Pingal Shiromani."
Linguistic Proficiency: Madhavdas was proficient in both Rajasthani (Dingal) and Sanskrit. Due to his association with royalty and nobles, he likely had knowledge of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish, as evidenced by the usage of these words in "Ram Raso." His mastery of the colloquial form of Rajasthani is also evident from the proverbs and idioms used in his epic.
Examples of Folk Language Usage: The text provides specific examples from "Ram Raso" where Madhavdas effectively employs the popular folk language of Rajasthan in dialogue and narrative.
The Scribe of "Ram Raso": A couplet in "Ram Raso" mentions "likhtam Bhagat Kalyan," identifying Kalyan as the first scribe of the epic, who was a distinct individual. The text expresses hope that scholars will research Kalyan.

In essence, the text is a scholarly exploration that not only introduces Mahakavi Madhavdas Dadhivadiya and his seminal work "Ram Raso" but also meticulously corrects historical inaccuracies about his life, lineage, and literary connections, solidifying his place as a significant poet in Rajasthani literary history.