Siddharaj Jaysinh Ane Kumarpal No Pragna Chakshu Rajkavi Shripal - Book Summary

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The text, titled "Siddharaj Jaysinh ane Kumarpal no Pragna chakshu Rajkavi Shripal" (Siddharaj Jaysinh and Kumarpal's Blind Royal Poet Shripal) by Bhogilal J. Sandesara, discusses the life and works of Shripal, a prominent blind royal poet of Gujarat during the Solanki (Chaulukya) dynasty.

Key Figures and Context:

Siddharaj Jaysinh (1094-1143 CE): The most remembered Solanki king of Anahilvad Patan, known for his patronage of scholars and his court being a meeting place for intellectuals from across India. He is considered a legendary figure, akin to Vikram and Bhoj.
Hemachandra: A renowned Jain Acharya and a prominent scholar in Siddharaj's court. He authored foundational texts in various branches of knowledge prevalent in India at the time.
Shripal: The subject of the essay, a blind royal poet in Siddharaj's court. His life and work are documented through various sources, including historical Sanskrit prabandhas (narratives), the Sanskrit drama Mudritakumudchandra Prakaran (depicting a debate between Jain and Digambara scholars), Prabhavak Charitra by Prabhachandra Suri, and Shripal's own surviving works.

Shripal's Life and Background:

Shripal was born into a Jain family of the Praghar (Porwad) caste, known for their valor, political acumen, and business skills in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
His statue is found in the assembly hall of the Vimal Vasati Jain temple on Mount Abu, built by Vimal Shah, a minister of King Bhimdev I. An inscription suggests his father's name was Lakshman, and he might have been a descendant of Vimal Shah or his family.
Blindness: Shripal was blind, though the cause or timing of his blindness is unknown. Despite this, he was a highly skilled poet and a learned scholar. He is referred to in prabandhas as "Kavicakravarti" (King of Poets), "Kavikuñjar" (Elephant of Poets), and "Mahakavi" (Great Poet), and in Mudritakumudchandra Prakaran as "Kaviraj" (King Poet).
Literary Prowess: His wisdom and wit are cited in collections of subhashitas (wise sayings) like Jalana's Suktimuktavali and Shaddhar's Shaddhar Paddhati. He is also mentioned as a "Shatbhashakavicakravarti" (Poet-King of Six Languages), implying he composed poetry in various Prakrit languages as well. Many contemporary poets sought his help to refine their work. Shripal also reviewed Hemachandrasuri's Nabagheyatika or Dvisandhanakavya.

Relationship with Kings:

Shripal was a close friend of King Siddharaj Jaysinh. He refers to himself as "Srimadbhartritvapanne Bandhu" (brother accepted by Siddharaj) in the Vadnagar inscription. Mudritakumudchandra Prakaran calls him "Shri Siddhamitram" (Siddharaj's childhood friend). Contemporary texts like Somaprabh Suri's Kumarpalpratibodh and Sumatinath Charitra mention that Siddharaj called Shripal "Brother!".
The Prabhavak Charitra elaborates on the closeness between Siddharaj and Shripal and their encounter with the Bhagavat sect's acharya Devabodha.
Shripal outlived Siddharaj and also became the royal poet for Siddharaj's successor, Kumarpal. He composed the inscription for Kumarpal's fort in Vadnagar in 1152 CE and accompanied Kumarpal on a pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya.

Family Legacy of Poets:

Shripal's son, Siddhapal, was also a distinguished poet and generous donor. Although no complete works of Siddhapal survive, some of his verses are quoted in Prabandhakosh. He also contributed verses to Somaprabha Suri's Kumarpalpratibodh. Notably, Somaprabha Suri completed his Prakrit work in an upasraya (monastery) built by Siddhapal in Patan. Siddhapal was also a favorite of King Kumarpal.
Siddhapal's son, Vijaypal, was a scholar and playwright. He authored the Sanskrit drama Draupadi Swayamvar, which was staged in Patan under the orders of King Bhimdev II. The essay highlights the rarity of such a continuous poetic tradition spanning three generations.

Shripal's Literary Works:

The text categorizes Shripal's known works into three types:

Works known only through literary references:
- Vairochanaparaajaya: A "Mahaprabandha" mentioned in Prabhavak Charitra. Its nature is unknown as it is lost. It's speculated to be the "Mahaprabandha" Shripal mentions creating in a day in the Vadnagar inscription.
- Rudramahalaya Inscription: Shripal is mentioned to have composed the inscription for the renovation of the Rudramahalaya temple by Siddharaj in Siddhpur. This inscription is presumed lost as the temple is in ruins.
Works available in fragmented form:
- Sahastralinga Sarovar Inscription: Fragments of Shripal's inscription for the Sahastralinga Sarovar, built by Siddharaj in Patan, have survived. These fragments, discovered on a stone slab, contain nine incomplete verses. It's estimated the full inscription had around 100 verses. The lake was also known as Durlabha Sarovar, named after Siddharaj's ancestor, Durlabhraj, who initiated its construction. Merutung Suri mentions that Siddharaj invited scholars from all schools of thought to review this inscription.
Complete and available works:
- Vadnagar Fort Inscription (1152 CE): A 30-verse ornate poem demonstrating Shripal's mastery of Sanskrit composition. The inscription details the history of the Solanki kings, starting from Mularaj I, and importantly, provides the first historical mention of the Chapotkata or Chavda dynasty, who ruled Patan before the Solankis, dating back to Vanraj Chavda's founding of Patan in 746 CE. This mention is significant as it highlights the Chavda dynasty's relatively minor status despite ruling from Patan, which later became a flourishing city.
- Chaturvishati Jinastuti: A beautiful 29-verse hymn praising the 24 Tirthankaras, adorned with elegant figures of speech.

Other Literary Contributions and Recognition:

Shripal's suktis (wise sayings) are found in various prabandhas, indicating his reputation as a poet. While no complete works in languages other than Sanskrit are known, it's inferred he may have composed extemporaneous verses in Prakrit and Apabhramsha, a practice common among poets of that era.
His Sanskrit verses welcoming Siddharaj back to Patan after his conquest of Malwa are quoted in Rajshekhar Suri's Prabandhakosh. A Sanskrit verse is also cited in Prabhavak Charitra.
The Mudritakumudchandra Prakaran places Shripal as a significant character, with many verses attributed to him within the play. The authenticity of these verses as Shripal's own or created by the playwright Yashashchandra is debated.
His subhashitas included in Suktimuktavali and Shaddhar Paddhati show his fame had spread to Maharashtra and Sapadalaksha. These verses, often related to descriptions of seasons, suggest he might have composed a work similar to Kalidasa's Ritusamhara.

The appendix lists some of Shripal's suktis quoted in subhashita collections and prabandhas.

In conclusion, the text provides a detailed account of Shripal, a remarkable blind poet who served two of Gujarat's most illustrious kings, Siddharaj Jaysinh and Kumarpal. It highlights his literary achievements, his esteemed position in court, his family's continued poetic legacy, and his significant contributions to Sanskrit literature and historical records.