Sanskrut Apbhramsa Bhashamayam Stotrashatakam

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Sanskrut Apbhramsa Bhashamayam Stotrashatakam" based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Sanskrut Apbhramsa Bhashamayam Stotrashatakam (A Collection of Hymns in Sanskrit and Apabhramsa)

Author: Edited by Muni Ratnakirtivijay

Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan

Overview:

This book is a compilation of hymns (stotras) dedicated to various Tirthankaras (Jain spiritual masters) and other revered figures. It is based on a manuscript from the Chanasma Jain Gyanbhandar, dating approximately to the 16th century. The manuscript contains praises for 24 Tirthankaras in total.

Key Contents:

1. Hymns to Nandiśvara and Others: This section includes praises for:

   • Nandishwaradweepa (an important island in Jain cosmology).
   • The 20 Tirthankaras who attained liberation (siddhi) at Sammetashikhar Teerth.
   • The 24 Tirthankaras residing on Mount Ashtapada.
   • Shri Simandhar Swami Bhagwan (a living Tirthankara in another realm).
   • The 170 Tirthankaras who lived concurrently.
   • Jain temples (Jain Chaityas) across various realms (heaven, netherworld, and earth).
   • The twelve Angas (scriptural divisions of Jainism).
   • Siddhayika Devi, the guardian deity of Lord Mahavir Swami's teachings.

2. Hymns to Five Specific Tirthankaras: Following the initial section, there are hymns to five prominent Tirthankaras, each consisting of approximately five verses. These hymns detail:

   • Their physical characteristics and symbols (lāñchana).
   • Their past lives (pūrva-bhavo).
   • The month and date of their five auspicious events (Pañca Kalyāṇaka: birth, renunciation, enlightenment, first sermon, and liberation).
   • Their body height.

   The five Tirthankaras whose hymns are presented are:

   • Shri Adinath (Rishabhadeva): The first Tirthankara.
   • Shri Shantinath: The 16th Tirthankara.
   • Shri Neminath: The 22nd Tirthankara.
   • Shri Parshvanath: The 23rd Tirthankara.
   • Shri Mahavir Swami: The 24th and last Tirthankara of this epoch.

Language and Dating:

• The collection is notable for being primarily in the Apabhramsa language, with the exception of the initial composition. Apabhramsa is an older Indo-Aryan language that evolved from Prakrit and is a precursor to modern North Indian languages.
• The manuscript's inscription suggests it was completed in Samvat 1590, which corresponds to 1533 AD. The author's name is not mentioned in the manuscript.

Significance:

This work is valuable for scholars and devotees interested in Jain devotional literature, specifically for its inclusion of hymns in the Apabhramsa language, offering insights into the linguistic and religious practices of the period. It also provides biographical and cosmological information about key figures in Jainism.