Rushabh Tarpan Jain Kriya Kand Vishyak Ek Saras Kruti - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Rushabh Tarpan Jain Kriya Kand Vishyak Ek Saras Kruti" by Shilchandrasuri, based on the provided pages:

The book "Rushabh Tarpan Jain Kriya Kand Vishyak Ek Saras Kruti" (A Beautiful Work on Jain Rituals concerning Rushabh Tarpan) by Shilchandrasuri, published by ZZ_Anusandhan, is a detailed exploration of Jain rituals, particularly focusing on a practice called "Rushabh Tarpan."

Core Argument about Rituals and Faith: The author begins by emphasizing that while knowledge (gyanmarg) is the inner soul of religion, it is the rituals (kriyakaand) and practices (aachaar-anushthaan) that keep a religious tradition vibrant, flourishing, and alive in people's hearts. True to Indian culture, the ultimate goal of religious practice is self-realization and liberation (moksha prapti). While various paths like knowledge yoga, karma yoga, meditation yoga, and devotion yoga can lead to this goal, karma yoga and devotion yoga are accessible to the common populace. Therefore, Jain acharyas, like those of other religions, placed significant importance on rituals and devotional practices, even if defined in their own unique ways. They created various religious rituals and observances to facilitate these practices.

Traditional Jain Rituals: The text notes that Jain traditions include household rituals like the sixteen Sanskaras (rites of passage) starting from conception, as well as deity worship, peace-promoting rituals, auspicious observances, and rituals involving mantras and yantras. Information on these can be found in published and unpublished Jain texts and current practices.

Absence of "Shraddha" or "Tarpan" in Traditional Jainism: A key point highlighted is the perceived absence of rituals similar to the Hindu "Shraddha" or "Tarpan" in Jainism. These Hindu rituals are performed for deceased ancestors, for the remembrance of their virtues, and for removing obstacles, diseases, and sorrows. While Jain texts mention various rituals for the deceased, for auspicious occasions, and for pacifying negative influences, there is no known ritual equivalent to the Hindu Shraddha or Tarpan. The prevalent belief is that Jains do not believe in or even prohibit such post-death rituals.

Discovery and Significance of "Rushabh Tarpan": However, the book introduces a significant discovery: a Sanskrit work titled "Rushabh Tarpanam." This text was found in an ancient handwritten manuscript collected by the respected Acharya Shri Vijay Suryodaysuriji. The manuscript itself bears dates from 1642, 1643, and 1646 (Vikram Samvat), indicating its compilation in the first half of the 17th century. This implies that "Rushabh Tarpan" is an even older work.

Origins and Context of "Rushabh Tarpan": The author of "Rushabh Tarpan" is not explicitly mentioned in the text or manuscript. However, it is speculated that the work might have been written for the recitation of a Jain layman named Shivsena from Una in Kathiawar. This suggests that the text and its usage might have been prevalent among the Jains of that region during that period. Given that Saurashtra's pilgrimage sites like Prabhaspatan, Prachi, and Girnar are considered holy for Hindu Shraddha and Pitru Tarpan rituals, it's suggested that Jain laypeople might have started adopting these non-Jain rituals. "Rushabh Tarpan" might have been created by a thoughtful individual to either prevent this trend or to bring them back to the Jain tradition. The mention of the 'Swarnarekha' river and 'Gajpad' kund in the water-bathing mantra further strengthens the connection of the creation and its author to the Saurashtra region.

Structure and Content of "Rushabh Tarpan": The work is divided into two parts:

Dandak Path: This section involves the recitation of specific mantras and invocations. It includes the remembrance and glorification of important figures in Jainism, such as Rishabhdev (the first Tirthankara), his disciples (Pundrik Swami), parents (Marudeva and Nabhiraja), sons (Bharat Chakravarti and Bahubali), wives (Sumangala and Sunanda), daughters (Brahmi and Sundari), grandsons (Marichi and Shreyans), and the Ganadhara Gautam, along with Vardhamana Swami. These invocations use various seed syllables like "Swasti," "Swaha," "Swadha," "Vashat," and "Namah." It also includes prayers for the sacrificer (yajman), invoking deities like Chakreshwari Devi, Gomukha Yaksha, sixteen Vidya Devis, Mahalakshmi, Tripura, and other deities. The text also mentions specifying the year, season, month, fortnight, date, and day of the week, and allows for the mention of deceased ancestors for whose benefit the ritual is being performed.
Tarpan Puja Vidhi: This part details the actual ritualistic procedure. It includes prayers for the well-being of ancestors, wishing for their satisfaction and peace. It also mentions prayers for removing obstacles like those caused by fire, poison, snakes, black magic, or weapons. Prayers are offered for those who died by drowning, suicide, starvation, thirst, or illness, as well as for those who died due to loss of wealth or separation from loved ones. This includes children, youth, elders, women, unmarried girls, those without sons, those from the same lineage, those who died with debts, and even past-life enemies. The aim is to evoke love and happiness and to ensure that the souls of the departed become free from malice, attain peace, and become happy and pleased.

Benefits and Efficacy of "Rushabh Tarpan": The text lists numerous benefits of performing this ritual:

Ancestral Peace: All ancestors are satisfied.
Overcoming Negativity: It alleviates negative effects associated with specific constellations (Mool and Ashlesha), bad dreams, ill omens, and inauspicious times.
Protection: Thieves flee, enemies become terrified, snakes are bewildered, enemies grieve, calamities are destroyed.
Prosperity: Trees bear fruit, grains grow, and constant celebrations prevail on Earth.
Personal Well-being: It brings satisfaction, dispels malice, fosters peaceful relations, grants happiness and liberation, and transforms displeasure into pleasure.
Financial Gains: Performing it twice a year brings immense wealth.
Spiritual Benefits: Performing it at the Rayanpagla on Shatrunjay Tirtha ensures the liberation of ancestors and removal of their defects.
Success in Endeavors: It leads to success in various auspicious events like consecration of idols, offerings to deities, and marriages.
Favorable Outcomes: It results in the birth of sons instead of daughters, brings profit where there was none, and removes troubles caused by wicked people.
Merit of Pilgrimage: Simply reciting the "Rushabh Tarpan" daily grants the merit of a pilgrimage to Shatrunjay without physically going there.

Ritualistic Procedure: The "Rushabh Tarpan Vidhi" (Ritual Procedure of Rushabh Tarpan) describes the steps involved:

The sacrificer (yajman), after proper purification and attire, should be knowledgeable and prepared.
Purification of the ground and bathing/sipping rituals are performed with specific mantras.
An idol of Rishabhdev is placed facing east or north.
Abhishekam (ritualistic bathing) is performed with fragrant water, milk, ghee, sugarcane juice, and medicinal herbs.
Worship is offered with flowers, unbroken rice (akshat), fruits, incense, and offerings.
Aarti (waving of lamps) is performed.
The Dandak Path, described earlier, is recited while filling a peace-making pot with a continuous stream of water.
After completing the ritual, the text suggests offering alms to monks and performing a dispersal ritual.

Unique Status and Importance: The text emphasizes that this "Rushabh Tarpan" is the only known copy of this work and is currently unpublished. It is presented as a valuable and unique resource for understanding Jain rituals, especially in the context of addressing the perceived absence of ancestral rituals like Shraddha in Jain tradition. The book aims to provide a meaningful and engaging practice that aligns with the core tenets of Jainism while fulfilling a spiritual need for remembering and honoring ancestors.