Stree Charitra Part 01

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Stree Charitra Part 01" by Narayandas Mishr, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Stree Charitra Part 01 (The Character of Women, Part 1) Author: Pandit Narayandas Mishr Publisher: Hariprasad Bhagirath Publication Date: Chaitra, Samvat 1976 (1919 CE); Shak 1842

Overview:

"Stree Charitra Part 01" is a foundational volume in a multi-part series aimed at educating and entertaining both men and women. The book's primary purpose is to provide moral guidance by illustrating various female characters and their actions, enabling readers to learn from the virtuous and guard themselves against the detrimental influences of the wicked. The author emphasizes that while the book is meant to be enjoyable, its deeper purpose is to serve as a cautionary tale and a guide for righteous living, particularly for women. The series is intended to cover a wide spectrum of female characters, from the cunning and deceitful to the devoted and heroic.

Key Themes and Content:

1. Purpose and Scope:

   • The book aims to entertain as well as educate men and women.
   • It seeks to help virtuous women and gentlemen avoid the pitfalls associated with "wicked women" (दुष्टा स्त्रियां).
   • The text is presented as containing both instructive elements and enjoyable narratives, making it pleasing to "rasik jano" (discerning individuals).
   • Part Two is planned to feature the characters of devoted wives and valiant queens, intended to benefit women further.
   • Separate books, "Stree Sukh Bodhini" (for women's duties and education) and "Kanya Sukh Bodhini" (for girls' education), are also mentioned as planned publications.

2. Introduction and Philosophy:

   • The book opens with a philosophical verse highlighting the inscrutability of certain aspects of life, including a king's mind, a miser's wealth, a wicked person's desires, a woman's character, and a person's destiny, stating that even God doesn't know them, let alone humans.
   • The author expresses a personal desire to write a beneficial book for women.
   • The title "Stree Charitra" is chosen to encompass both the negative ("ducharitra" - bad character) and positive ("sacharitra" - good character) aspects of women. The author notes that a previous book with a similar title focused only on negative female traits.
   • The book is divided into two parts, each with a "Purvardha" (first half) and "Uttarardha" (second half).
   • Part One's Purvardha focuses on the misdeeds of wicked women.
   • Part One's Uttarardha is dedicated to the good character of a beautiful woman named "Sundari" and includes a short play titled "Holika Nirnay" (Decision regarding Holi).

3. The Importance of Education for Women:

   • The author strongly advocates for the education of women, emphasizing that intellect (बुद्धि) is humanity's greatest asset, enabling humans to overcome physical limitations and achieve extraordinary feats.
   • Intellect, however, requires knowledge (विद्या) to reach its full potential.
   • Education is presented as a means to purify and enhance the intellect, allowing one to understand past wisdom and discern right from wrong.
   • Women who are adorned with the "jewel of knowledge" are considered truly beautified, surpassing those adorned with mere gold and jewels.
   • The author debunks the notion that education is solely for livelihood, stating its primary benefit is knowledge acquisition.
   • The text quotes traditional verses highlighting inherent female qualities and flaws, such as courage, untruthfulness, fickleness, greed, impurity, and deceit. It suggests that education can mitigate these negative traits and cultivate virtues like devotion to husband (पातिव्रत धर्म).
   • The ideal woman is described as one who is pure, intelligent, devoted to her husband, and speaks truthfully.

4. Illustrative Narratives (Characters and Stories):

   • The book begins with Mangalacharan (auspicious invocations) and dedications to deities.
   • The "Purvardha" (first half) of Part One commences with the characters of wicked women.
   • Mohini's Character: This section details the story of Mohini, the wife of a merchant named Hazarilal. She engages in adulterous affairs with her husband's employee, Guljarilal, due to her husband's age and perceived impotence. The story highlights Mohini's manipulative nature, her attempts to deceive her husband, and her eventual downfall, leading to her husband's madness. The narrative serves as a strong caution against infidelity and deceit.
   • Chameli's Character: Chameli, the wife of a jeweler, is also presented as cunning. Despite her husband's restrictions and distrust, she orchestrates a deceitful plan to meet her lover by feigning illness. The story illustrates her cleverness in manipulating a village midwife and her husband, ultimately leading to her lover's escape while the husband is left bewildered and eventually impoverished.
   • Mukhdei's Character: Mukhdei, the young wife of an elderly merchant, finds herself neglected by her impotent husband. She takes multiple lovers and employs elaborate schemes to conceal her actions. The story includes an episode where she deceives her husband by using his priest's son to feign an illness and manipulate a situation, showcasing her intelligence and manipulative skills in maintaining her illicit affairs.
   • Gopi's Character: Gopi, a merchant's wife, is portrayed as an adventurous and deceitful woman. She engages in clandestine relationships while her husband is away. In a dramatic turn, she recognizes her own husband disguised as a traveler in an inn and uses her wit to humiliate him and escape retribution, highlighting her sharp mind and audacious nature.
   • Shivadei's Character: Shivadei, a merchant's wife, is described as beautiful and seductive. She uses her charm to entice a young man and engages in an illicit affair with him. She then cunningly manipulates her husband by fabricating a story about a madman to explain her lover's presence, demonstrating her ability to deceive and control situations.
   • Champakali's Character: Champakali, the wife of a betel leaf seller, is a cunning and adulterous woman. She seduces a wealthy merchant's son. After her husband departs, she skillfully manipulates the young man into a relationship, leading him to her home. In a twist, when her husband returns, she creates a dramatic scenario involving her lovers and her husband, ultimately leading to her husband's despair and her own tragic end.
   • Mahadei's Character: Mahadei, a merchant's wife, is depicted as intelligent and manipulative. She feigns illness to attract a Brahmin scholar and engages in affairs with him. She then orchestrates a complex deception involving her husband, the Brahmin, and her lover, showcasing her sharp intellect and ability to control circumstances, even leading to her husband's bewilderment.
   • Sundari's Character (Uttarardha): This section introduces the story of Sundari, the daughter of Prime Minister Buddhisagar, in the kingdom of King Vidyabhushan. It describes her beauty and intelligence and her eventual romantic entanglement with a Brahmin scholar named Madanmohan. The narrative highlights the challenges of love, societal expectations, and the king's clever intervention to resolve the situation. It also touches upon the importance of education and discerning true character.
   • Holika Nirnay (Decision Regarding Holi): This is presented as a prahasana (farce) within the Uttarardha. It depicts a king seeking to understand the true meaning of Holi celebrations by questioning various groups in his kingdom (Brahmins, Kayasthas, Bhuiyahars, Nanaks, Ramjanis, Nakals, Hijras). Each group presents their perspective, often highlighting societal decadence, excessive drinking, and loss of traditional values. The Brahmins emphasize the religious and sacrificial aspects of Holi, while others focus on revelry and indulgence. The king ultimately concludes that true Holi is about performing sacrifices and striving for the welfare of the world, rather than mere revelry.

5. Literary Style and Language:

   • The book is written in Hindi with a clear and accessible language, incorporating traditional verses and poetic couplets (dohas, chaupais, savaiyas, etc.) to enhance the narrative and convey moral lessons.
   • The author uses vivid descriptions to portray characters and events, aiming to keep the reader engaged.

6. Publisher and Publication Details:

   • Hariprasad Bhagirath is credited with publishing the book.
   • It was printed at the "Native Opinion" Press in Mumbai.
   • The book is a valuable resource for understanding social and moral perspectives prevalent in its time within the Jain tradition.

In essence, "Stree Charitra Part 01" is a moralistic literary work that uses stories of women—both their virtues and their vices—to educate readers on ethical conduct, the importance of knowledge, and the consequences of actions. It aims to serve as a guide for living a virtuous life, particularly within the context of societal norms and spiritual aspirations.