Shastroddharaka Muni Chaturvijayji

Here is a comprehensive summary of the provided Gujarati text about Muni Chaturvijayji, translated into English:

This text is an obituary and tribute to the late Muni Chaturvijayji, written by Sukhlal Sanghavi and published in "Prabuddha Jain" on December 31, 1939. Sanghavi recounts his initial interaction with Muni Chaturvijayji, which stemmed from a request to write about him after his passing.

Sanghavi admits he wasn't intimately familiar with Muni Chaturvijayji's entire life, both physical and spiritual. However, he had a significant literary and scholarly connection with him. He notes that Muni Chaturvijayji was a disciple of the esteemed Acharya Kantivijayji and the guru of Muni Punyavijayji, known for his contributions to Jain literature. While the exact age of Muni Chaturvijayji at the time of his death isn't specified, it's estimated to be around seventy years.

Sanghavi's personal connection began when he moved to Gujarat for scholarly work after studying in Kashi. He initially decided not to teach in a monastic setting, believing that a commitment to certain restrictions would hinder true learning. However, he was advised to meet Acharya Kantivijayji before finalizing this decision. This led him to Patan, where he met Muni Chaturvijayji, then a disciple teaching Muni Punyavijayji.

What struck Sanghavi immediately about Muni Chaturvijayji was his humility, inquisitiveness, and frankness. He observed a vibrant intellectual environment where scholarly discussions extended beyond formal lessons. When Sanghavi taught texts like "Tilakamanjari" or "Kavyanushasan," a group of monks and lay scholars would gather, engaging in research on the texts. This involved comparing various old manuscripts, both on palm leaves and paper, to arrive at accurate readings. Sanghavi, who was new to textual research at the time, found this process deeply engaging and rewarding. Although Muni Punyavijayji was the primary student, Muni Chaturvijayji was central to the research efforts.

Even before Sanghavi's involvement, Muni Chaturvijayji had published several Sanskrit and Prakrit texts and had undertaken extensive reforms and organization of numerous manuscript collections (bhandars). Sanghavi highlights Muni Chaturvijayji's dual commitment: simultaneously publishing multiple books while also undertaking the laborious task of creating new handwritten copies of precious, decaying manuscripts that had been neglected for centuries.

Sanghavi then discusses two prevalent practices in book publishing around 1914-15. Firstly, Jain traditions and journals were almost exclusively responsible for publication, regardless of the subject matter. Secondly, introductions and prefaces were predominantly written in Sanskrit, considered a mark of prestige. Sanghavi challenged this practice, arguing that Sanskrit prefaces often lacked substantive content, merely containing exaggerated praise, and served to uphold the guru's authority while masking the author's ignorance. He believed that genuine scholars should not hesitate to write in the common vernacular (Gujarati in this case) if they had something meaningful to convey. If they wished to showcase their scholarship, they could do so in Sanskrit concurrently. Muni Chaturvijayji, however, took Sanghavi's critique seriously and largely abandoned writing prefaces solely in Sanskrit. This shift, Sanghavi notes, made important historical information accessible to a wider audience through Gujarati publications. This open-mindedness and willingness to adopt correct principles deeply impressed Sanghavi.

Sanghavi also addresses the format of publishing. While monks found it convenient to publish in pamphlet form (patrakara), it was inconvenient for students, professors, and librarians. The practice of pamphlet publishing was considered a vital part of religious duty. When Sanghavi and other knowledgeable friends pointed this out to Muni Chaturvijayji, he understood the issue and adopted a balanced approach. He ensured that the monks' preference for pamphlet publication was accommodated while also meeting the demand for book-form publications from scholars worldwide. Sanghavi acknowledges that this might seem unconventional but emphasizes its immense utility from an academic and library management perspective. He notes that even today, some orthodox monks and acharyas view book-form publications with indifference or disdain, regardless of their usefulness.

A significant characteristic of Muni Chaturvijayji was his immediate focus on organizing the manuscript collections wherever he traveled. He would create proper catalogs, rebind fragile manuscripts, arrange them systematically, and even arrange for the construction of shelves or cabinets when needed. He ensured the collections were well-maintained and durable. In addition to publishing catalogs, he also created new handwritten copies of all manuscripts, large and small, from both old and new collections, amassing a comprehensive and valuable collection that is now housed in Vadodara and is considered invaluable by scholars.

Sanghavi emphasizes that publishing books, transcribing old texts, and improving manuscript collections are not simple tasks. Muni Chaturvijayji was continuously involved in ancillary activities related to this work. The ability to read ancient scripts on paper and palm leaves, even if they were complex, worn, or faded, is the first step in literary scholarship and crucial for historical accuracy. Similarly, the skill of accurate transcription and careful proofreading for printing in beautiful handwriting is equally essential for scholars. Muni Chaturvijayji possessed both these skills to an extraordinary degree. Sanghavi had the opportunity to appreciate the value of these skills during his research on various texts between 1921 and 1935. Muni Chaturvijayji also taught these skills to curious individuals and beginners. Sanghavi knows many monks and laypeople who learned transcription and proofreading from him and are now either engaged in literary service or using these skills for their livelihood. Sanghavi personally sent a few promising students to learn these arts from him, and Muni Chaturvijayji patiently imparted this knowledge to them.

Muni Chaturvijayji was the silent implementer of Acharya Kantivijayji's vision for the improvement and preservation of manuscript collections. He effectively passed on all his father's (Acharya Kantivijayji's) expertise to a worthy successor (Muni Punyavijayji). Those familiar with Muni Punyavijayji and his life's work will readily understand this. Muni Chaturvijayji possessed extensive, accurate, and readily available information on various subjects, befitting a scholar and essential for a historian. He was a definitive source of knowledge on topics such as: the availability and location of a particular author's works, the chronological placement of authors, distinguishing between authors with the same name, whether women or nuns had been authors in the Jain tradition, the status of Jain monks and lay followers during the reign of certain rulers, the origin and preservation of palm leaves in ancient times, the methods of writing, and the conditions of the scribes.

Muni Chaturvijayji passed away on the first of December, at night, in Patan, the traditional seat of Gujarat's and Jain literature's glory, where he had spent a significant portion of his life's work. His extensive knowledge of Patan's numerous manuscript collections, ancient temples, its diverse sculptures, and its periods of rise and fall was well-known to those who knew him. In one sense, he continued his father's life's work until his old age. In another sense, he effectively transferred his father's skills to a deserving heir with interest. While his passing might not be considered premature in terms of his age, Sanghavi reflects that from the perspective of his very elderly guru, Acharya Kantivijayji, it would have been better if Muni Chaturvijayji's life had been longer. Although Muni Chaturvijayji had few disciples, those he did have were of exceptional quality. Sanghavi believes these recollections are sufficient to inspire respect for Muni Chaturvijayji and an appreciation of his life's work. Sanghavi concludes by expressing his lifelong gratitude to the late Muni Chaturvijayji, who provided him with significant inspiration in his own work of researching and editing books.