Samraiccha Kaha

Comprehensive Summary of "Samraiccha Kaha" (First Two Chapters) by Haribhadra Suri

This edition of the first two chapters of Haribhadra Suri's Samraiccha Kaha (meaning "The Tale of Samaraiccha") aims to provide a correct and accessible text for students of Maharashtri Prakrit. The work, a significant piece of Jain literature, is known for its religious instruction woven into an engaging narrative.

Author and Context:

• Author: Haribhadra Suri, a prominent Jain scholar.
• Date of Haribhadra: The text discusses the scholarly debate surrounding Haribhadra's date, with significant evidence pointing to him flourishing in the later part of the 7th century AD and into the 8th century AD. His known interactions with figures like Dignaga, Dharmakirti, Bhartrhari, and Kumarila, and the mention of his work in Udyotana's Kuvalayamala (dated to 778 AD), help establish this timeframe.
• Haribhadra's Life: He was born a Brahmin, possibly in or near Chittor. He was well-versed in Brahmanic lore and was converted to Jainism by a Jain nun named Yakini Mahattara. He often refers to himself as Haribhadra Suri in homage to her. He regarded Jinadatta Suri as his preceptor. His extensive knowledge of non-Jain systems, particularly Buddhism, is evident in his commentaries. His activities were primarily centered in Gujarat and Rajputana. He is credited with a vast literary output, with tradition attributing 1400 Horas (treatises) to him, although the authenticity of such a large number is questioned. The work is also known for its use of the mudra (signature) of "Viraha," which has a poignant legendary origin related to the loss of his nephews and disciples.

The Work's Title and Structure:

• Title: While popularly known as Samraiccha Kaha, Haribhadra intended the title to be Samraiccha Caria. The term Kaha (story) became popular early on, possibly due to a play on words by Udyotana.
• Structure: The Samraiccha Kaha is structured around the concept of Bhavas, meaning births. The complete work consists of nine Bhavas, detailing the successive births of the main characters, driven by the karma and motivations from previous lives. The current edition focuses on the first two chapters, covering the initial two births.

Contents of the First Two Chapters:

The introduction to the text lays out the framework for the narrative:

• Introduction of Dharma: The author begins with verses invoking Jinas, outlining the types of stories (celestial, celestial-temporal, temporal), the classifications of stories (wealth, love, religion, and mixed), and the types of listeners (low, middle, high). He declares his intention to relate the Dharmakatha (religious story) of the celestial-temporal type, focusing on the life-story of King Samaraditya, and detailing his previous nine births.
• First Birth: Gunasena and Agnisarman:
  • The story begins in the city of Ksitipratistha. King Purnacandra has a son named Gunasena, who is described as a pleasure-loving prince. Agnisarman, a Brahmin priest's son, is portrayed as ugly and insulted, leading him to seek asceticism.
  • Gunasena, after becoming king, encounters Agnis'arman, who is observing a strict monthly fast. Gunasena's attempts to invite Agnis'arman for meals are repeatedly thwarted by various incidents, including Gunasena's headache, attacks by other kings, and disruptions during festivals. This series of events fuels Agnis'arman's anger and resolve to be reborn to kill Gunasena.
  • The narrative then shifts to a sub-story involving Vijayasena, a prince who became an ascetic. Vijayasena recounts his previous lives, highlighting the consequences of pride, deceit, and attachment, and emphasizes the value of Jain theology, right belief, knowledge, and conduct.
  • Gunasena, deeply affected by the stories and the futility of worldly life, resolves to become an ascetic under Vijayasena. Agnis'arman, after a cycle of births, ends up in heaven, while Gunasena attains godhood.
• Second Birth: Simha and Ananda:
  • The soul of Gunasena is reborn as Prince Simha, son of King Purusadatta of Jayapura, and his wife SriKanta. Simha becomes infatuated with Kusumavali, the daughter of his maternal uncle. Their courtship is facilitated by maids and palace chamberlains, with symbolic messages exchanged through gifts and paintings.
  • The story details the marriage ceremony, which is lavish and elaborate. Simha and Kusumavali enjoy marital bliss for many years. During a park visit, Simha encounters the ascetic Dharmaghosa and is deeply impressed by his renunciation and teachings on the cycle of births, the nature of suffering, and the path to salvation.
  • The narrative then delves into Dharmaghosa's past life story, which involves a series of births and rebirths driven by his own past karma and encounters with his adversary. These stories highlight the dire consequences of actions motivated by pride, deceit, attachment, and hatred, ultimately leading to the understanding of Dharma and the eventual path to liberation.
  • King Purusadatta, influenced by the teachings of Dharmaghosa, renounces the world and becomes an ascetic, entrusting the kingdom to his son Simha.
  • The soul of Agnis'arman is reborn as Ananda, Simha's son, who harbors deep hatred from a previous birth towards his father. Ananda conspires with Durmati, a rebel vassal, to kill Simha. Simha, despite his kingly duties, faces internal turmoil, eventually renouncing the world and preaching Dharma to his queens. Simha eventually dies and attains heaven, while Ananda descends to hell.

Key Themes and Significance:

• Karma and Rebirth: The central theme is the working of karma and the cycle of rebirth, where actions in one life have consequences in subsequent lives. The narrative meticulously traces how negative traits like pride, deceit, anger, and attachment lead to suffering and lower births, while virtues like forgiveness, non-attachment, and righteous conduct lead to spiritual progress and eventual liberation.
• Religious Instruction: The text is replete with sermons and parables, such as the parable of the man in the well, illustrating Jain philosophical concepts like the nature of the soul, the futility of worldly pleasures, the impermanence of life, and the path to Moksa.
• Social History: The work provides valuable insights into the social customs, practices, and beliefs prevalent in ancient India, particularly in Gujarat, including descriptions of marriage ceremonies, courtly life, religious observances, and social hierarchies.
• Language and Style: The language is Maharashtri Prakrit, characterized by its fluency and simplicity, though interspersed with ornamental prose influenced by Sanskrit. The style often employs long compounds and allegorical descriptions, common in classical Indian romances. The text also demonstrates the Jain tradition of embedding stories within stories, reflecting the complex theory of karma and rebirth.

This edition, by providing the text with introductions, notes, and Sanskrit commentary, aims to make this important Jain work accessible for deeper study and appreciation.