Sahitya Samrakshan

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Sahitya Samrakshan" by Punyavijay:

The book, "Sahitya Samrakshan" (Conservation of Literature), authored by Munishri Punyavijayji, highlights the Jain community's profound foresight and dedication to preserving their invaluable scriptural heritage. The author emphasizes that Jain scholars initiated the process of historical conservation centuries before Western scholars, starting with inscriptions on stone, copper plates, and symbolic paintings. Alongside this, they began conserving literature on palm leaves and paper.

The text details the various materials and methods used for preserving Jain literature:

• Materials: Beyond palm leaves and paper, the tradition extended to writing on cloth. The author mentions a collection in the Patan Sangha's repository containing two books written on cloth, one dating back to Samvat 1418. These cloth pieces were prepared using rice paste and polished with agate or similar stones to create a writing surface. Other texts like "Chopasa ni Vijnapti," "Samvatsarik Kshamaapana," and "Karma Granth na Yantra" were also found written on single pieces of cloth.
• Preservation Methods: Jain scholars developed sophisticated methods to protect these valuable manuscripts from damage. This included storing them in safe containers called "Dabda" and repositories ("Bhandar") designed to shield them from fire, water, and pests, ensuring their longevity until the "end of time." The existence of extensive collections hidden in secret repositories, underground chambers, and pillars serves as evidence of these efforts.
• Patronage and Motivation: The conservation of literature was a widespread endeavor, supported by kings, ministers, and wealthy householders. This patronage was driven by various auspicious occasions and motivations, including:
  • The culmination of ascetic practices (Tapascharya).
  • Listening to Jain scriptures (Jinagami shravan).
  • The well-being of oneself or deceased loved ones.
  • A personal interest in literature.
  • Fulfilling vows or religious observances. Even ordinary individuals contributed significantly to this cause.

The author cites specific examples of this patronage:

• Maharaja Siddharaj Jaysinh: Established a royal library by employing three hundred scribes to copy texts.
• Acharya Hemachandra: Hundreds of copies of his grammar treatise (estimated to be 125,000 verses) were made and sent as gifts to scholars across countries.
• Maharaja Kumarpal: Established twenty-one knowledge repositories and had palm-leaf manuscripts of Jain Agamas and Acharya Hemachandra's works like "Yogashastra" and "Vitaragastav" written in golden ink for his royal library.
• Minister Vastupal-Tejpala: Following the guidance of Acharyas Vijayasen Suri and Udayaprabh Suri of the Nagedra Gachchha, they commissioned the writing of texts for knowledge repositories.
• Minister Pethad Shah of Mandavgadh: Upon listening to Acharya Dhaghosha Suri of the Tapagachchha, he performed a ritualistic worship of "Viragautam" mentioned in the "Bhagvati Sutra" with gold coins. The accumulated wealth was used to commission books and establish repositories in seven places, including Bharuch.
• Other Householders: Dharana Shah, on the command of Acharya Jinabhadr Suri of the Kharatara Gachchha, and Kalu, grandson of S. Bhim residing in Nandurbar, guided by Upadhyay Mahisumudragani, along with Pethad Shah, Mandalik, and Parvatkaha, guided by Acharyas Saty Suri, Jayanand Suri, and Vivekansuri of the Agam Gachchha, established knowledge repositories by commissioning new texts.

Despite these extensive efforts, the text acknowledges that many of these repositories have been lost or destroyed over time due to various factors:

• The instability of kingdoms and political upheavals.
• The ignorance of the Jain community.
• Damage from water, insects (termites), and rodents.
• Disorderly storage during times of crisis, leading to scattered pages.
• Deliberate discarding of damaged or unusable texts, sometimes thrown into rivers, seas, or old wells.

The author highlights that diligent Jain monks have salvaged hundreds of invaluable and previously unknown texts from such discarded collections, suggesting that more such precious texts might still be discovered.

The book also touches upon the protective measures taken, such as:

• Secret Chambers: Similar to how the Jain Sangh concealed idols in underground chambers during the Mughal invasions, knowledge repositories were secured in fortified locations like the Jaisalmer fort.
• Hidden Pillars: The text mentions a story of Acharya Siddhasen discovering useful texts on mantras from a secret pillar, which then vanished into the ground. It speculates on the vast amount of hidden mantra literature that might have been lost permanently in such secret structures.
• Elevated Storage: A custom of keeping book chests, boxes, or cabinets elevated from the ground to prevent damage from dust, termites, and rodents.
• Moisture Control: Selecting repository locations that are free from dampness and where monsoon water cannot seep in.
• Binding: Ensuring that each manuscript is firmly bound.

The concluding section includes a devotional poem by Kavi Tejal dedicated to Lord Parshvanath, emphasizing meditation and remembrance of his name.