Simandharswami Lekh

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Simandharswami Lekh" by Pradyumnasuri, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Simandharswami Lekh (Letter/Writing to Lord Simandharswami) Author: Jayvantsuri Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/229715/1

Overall Summary:

"Simandharswami Lekh" is a devotional poem in Gujarati composed by the medieval Jain poet Jayvantsuri. The poem, consisting of five "dhal" (stanzas or sections), expresses the deep longing and spiritual yearning of the poet for Lord Simandharswami, one of the twenty-four Tirthankaras who resides in the eternal land of Mahavideha. The poem is characterized by its rich imagery, emotional depth, and unique expression of love and devotion.

Key Aspects of the Text:

• Author - Jayvantsuri:

  • Jayvantsuri is a prominent medieval Gujarati poet, known for both grand compositions (like "Shrungarmanjari," "Rishidatta Ras") and smaller, equally noteworthy pieces.
  • His creative signature is evident in all his works, and he is estimated to have composed around eighty songs.
  • He belonged to the lineage of Upadhyay Vinaymandal, a disciple of Ratnakarsuri Maharaj, who started the "Ratnakara branch" of the Brihat Tapagachha.
  • His literary output suggests that scholarship and writing were his life's profession.
  • His active period is estimated to be the latter half of the 16th century and the first half of the 17th century (Vikram era).
  • For further details about him, readers are referred to an article by Jayant Kothari titled "Pandit, Rasaj ane Sarjak Kavi Jayavantasuri."

• Content of the Poem (Kritiparitya):

  • The "Simandharswami Lekh" is a composition of 40 verses spread across five "dhal" (stanzas/sections).
  • Each of the five sections is set to a different raga (musical tune).
  • A unique characteristic is that the poem was written on the night of Sharad Purnima (the full moon night of autumn). The poet finds the autumn season and the full moon night inspiring enough to express his emotions.
  • The core theme is a plea and prayer to Lord Simandharswami.
  • The poet expresses his deep devotion by considering the Lord as his beloved.
  • The poem vividly describes the emotions of separation (viraha), union (sanyog), and the ebb and flow of feelings (urmio) when contemplating the Lord.
  • The poet highlights the imaginative variety and richness of metaphors and similes used in the work.
  • Jayvantsuri himself describes his verses as being "set with diamonds" and calling the letter "priceless."

• Manuscript Details (Prati paritya):

  • Manuscripts of this work are found in various libraries.
  • The presented edition is based on manuscript number 6521 from the L.D. Institute of Indology, Gujarat University.
  • Two other manuscripts from the same institute (numbers 24814 and 27236) were used for comparison to note textual variations, but significant differences were not found; these other manuscripts were noted as appearing less accurate.
  • The used manuscript has three folios, with thirteen lines on each side of the first two folios and five lines on the verso of the last folio.
  • The manuscript's script is described as bold and ornate.
  • The manuscript appears to be written cleanly.
  • The letter 'kh' is represented by 'sh' in the manuscript.
  • The scribe's name is not mentioned, nor is the date of writing.
  • It is estimated that the manuscript dates back to the 17th century.
  • The inscription "Pandit Hemraj Pathanartham" is found at the end.
  • The widespread availability of the manuscript suggests its considerable circulation.
  • The text includes a glossary of words with their meanings.
  • The assistance of Shri Kantibhai B. Shah is gratefully acknowledged for the clean copy of the poem and the glossary.

Poetic Content Snippets (as translated from the Gujarati verse examples):

The verses express:

• The sweetness of the Lord's name, which pours like nectar.
• The poet's mind as a bee drawn to the lotus-like qualities of the Lord.
• An intense longing to meet the Lord, feeling distant.
• The pain of separation, with days feeling like years and nights like months.
• The desire for wings to fly and meet the Lord instantly.
• The struggle of the heart in separation, feeling weak and distressed.
• The impossibility of expressing the depth of love through words alone.
• The hope that a message will reach the Lord.
• The poet's constant remembrance of the Lord's virtues, like a 'chakora' bird remembering the moon or a bee remembering a flower.
• A prayer to the divine for the ability to meet.
• The profound sadness of being separated from the Lord, who is described as the Lord of the universe.
• The Lord's unparalleled qualities, which are hard to fully describe.
• The wish that all the difficulties of separation would be resolved.
• A comparison of distances: sun to lotus, peacock to rain, to illustrate the separation.
• A wish to be able to meet the Lord and narrate the sorrows of the heart.
• The idea that even vast resources like oceans for ink and the sky for paper would not be enough to write all the thoughts of the mind.
• The verses are described as precious, like diamonds, and capable of pleasing the heart.
• The poem was written by Pandit Jayavant at midnight on a Friday, Asho Sud Punam (a specific lunar date).

In essence, "Simandharswami Lekh" is a masterpiece of devotional poetry, capturing the intense spiritual longing and profound love of a devotee for a celestial being, set against a backdrop of poetic beauty and intricate composition.