Tirthankar 12 Vasupujyaswami Bhagwan Parichay - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Tirthankar 12 Vasupujyaswami Bhagwan Parichay" by Muni Shri Dipratnasagar, translated into English:

This book, "Tirthankar 12 Vasupujyaswami Bhagwan Parichay," is a detailed compilation by Muni Shri Dipratnasagar (M.Com., M.Ed., Ph.D., Shrutamaharshi) that presents information about the 12th Tirthankar of the current Chovisi (era) in Bharatkshetra, Bhagwan Vasupujya, across 185 points (dwars). The compilation draws from various ancient Jain scriptures and commentaries, including "Saptatishathasthan Pravar" by Somatisuri, "Savachka," "Avashyak" vritti, "Pravachan Saroddhar," "Tirthodralik Panno," "Shatkikhalapurusha Charitra," "235 Annamadpurusha Charitra," "Samavay Chaturth-Masutra," and "Agam-Kathanuyog."

The author acknowledges that the primary source for the 185 points is "Saptatishathasthan Pravar," but notes that variations and differing accounts (pathantaras) exist in the number of Ganadhars, Shramans, Shramanis, and other figures across various scriptures. Examples are provided, such as the differing counts for Bhagwan Ajit's Ganadhars in "Samavay Sutra" versus other texts, or variations in the number of Ganadhars for Bhagwan Sambhav and Bhagwan Suvidhi. Similar discrepancies are mentioned for the counts of Shravikas and Shramanis for certain Tirthankars, and even for the lifespan and specific event timings of Bhagwan Mallinath. These variations are noted to be meticulously recorded in the author's "Agam Kathanuyog."

The text then proceeds to detail various aspects of Bhagwan Vasupujya's life and attributes, presented in a question-and-answer or factual format, covering:

Previous Lives and Karma:

Bhagwan Vasupujya has had three significant previous lives: Padmottar Raja, Pranat Deva, and then Vasupujya himself.
He achieved Samyakva (right faith) in his past lives.
His previous lives were in Pushkarvar Dwip, in the Vitadeha region south of the Sitanadi river.
His birth city in a previous life was Mangalavati, and he was a Mandalika Raja. His guru in that life was Vajranabh.
His Tirthankar-namakarma (karma that leads to becoming a Tirthankar) was bound through the worship of twenty virtues, including affection for Arihants, Siddhas, the teachings, gurus, ascetics, scholars, and practicing virtues like non-erroneous vision, discipline, vows, meditation, and devotion to scripture.
In a previous life, he possessed the knowledge of eleven Angas.
He resided in the Pranat Swarg in a previous life, with an lifespan of 20 Sagaropam.

Descent and Birth:

He descended from the Pranat Swarg in the month of Jyeshtha, on the 9th day of the bright half (Shukla Paksha), under the Shatabhisha nakshatra in the Kumbha rashi, during the midnight period.
Upon his conception, his mother, Jaya Devi, had 14 auspicious dreams (Haathi, Vrushabh, Singh, Lakshmi, Pushpamala, Chandra, Surya, Dhwaj, Purnakalash, Padmasarovar, Kshirasamudra, Devaviman, Ratnarashi, Nidhwamagni). The text notes that the sequence of dreams is generally consistent for Tirthankars, but Rishabhdev's mother saw a bull as the first dream.
The interpretation of these dreams was done by his father and a dream interpreter.
Unlike some other Tirthankars, there was no "Garbh Sanharan" (interruption or adverse change) to his conception. His mother's womb did not change shape during the pregnancy.
He spent 8 months and 20 days in his mother's womb.
His birth occurred in the latter half of the fourth era.
At the time of his birth, 46 Sagaropam, 1 crore 37 lakh 84 thousand years, and 89 pakshas of the fourth era remained.
He was born in Champa Puri in Anga Desh.
At the time of his birth, 64 Indras, along with accompanying celestial beings (Dashkumaries), arrived. These included 8 from the lower worlds, 8 from the upper worlds, 8 from East Ruchak, 8 from West Ruchak, 8 from North Ruchak, 8 from South Ruchak, and 8 from the center. They performed various tasks, such as preparing the birthplace, purifying the ground, showering fragrant water and flowers, holding mirrors, fanning, offering chamaras (fly-whisks), holding lamps, and performing sutika rituals.
His birth Abhishek was performed on the Atipandukambal Shila, south of the Pandukvan.
64 Indras performed his birth rituals, using 1008 pitchers. These rituals involved creating a reflection of the Tirthankar, placing him in their lap, bathing him with Kusha grass, anointing him with Goshir Chandan, performing Angapoojana with flowers, adorning him with clothes and ornaments, and finally placing him near his mother after sprinkling divine nectar. They also showered 32 crore golden coins and made proclamations.

Family and Lineage:

His mother was Jaya Devi, and his father was King Vasupujya.
He was born a male.
His mother attained the status of a Sanskumar celestial being after his birth. His father also attained the same status.
His Gotra was Kasyapa, and his lineage was Ishwaku.
His emblem (Lanchhan) is a buffalo (Mahish).
His name, Vasupujya, is generally interpreted as being worshipped by the Vayu Devata or that his royal lineage was worshipped by Vayu.

Physical Attributes:

He does not have a divine hood (phana) on his head.
He possessed 1008 auspicious physical characteristics.
His Sanghayan (body structure) was Anuttar Vajranarayan.
His Samsthan (body posture) was Anuttar Samachatursra.
While in a householder state, he possessed Mati, Shrut, and Avadhi Gyan.
His Gana was Rakshasa, and his Yoni was Ashwa.
His complexion was red (Rakta).
His appearance was supremely excellent and radiant, with even all the gods combined unable to create a beauty as small as his thumb.
His strength was infinite, being many times greater than that of a Vasudeva or Chakravarti.
His height was 70 Dhanush (using Utsedhangul) and 120 Angul (using Atmangul), or 16 Angul and 40 Ansha (using Pramanangul).

Life and Renunciation:

His diet in childhood was the divine nectar placed on his thumb by Indra. Later, he consumed specific foods like Odana.
He was married.
He enjoyed sensual pleasures with his wife.
His princehood lasted for 18 lakh years.
He reigned for 18 lakh years.
He was not a Chakravarti or a Mandalika Raja; he was Swayam Boddha (self-enlightened).
He attained enlightenment (Bodha) in Brahmaloka.
The Lokantik Devas (Archi, Archimali, Vairochana, etc.) appeared to inform him about the opportune time for renunciation.
He gave vast amounts of wealth (Varshidan) daily and annually: 1 crore 8 lakh daily, and 388 crore 80 lakh golden coins annually, distributed from sunrise to noon.
He took initiation in the month of Phalguna, on the Amavasya of the dark half (Vadi Amavasya) (Gujarati), which is the Amavasya of the dark half of Magha (Shastriya).
His initiation nakshatra was Shatabhisha, in the Kumbha rashi, during the afternoon.
The penance undertaken at the time of initiation was a fourth-day fast (Chauth Bhakta).
He took initiation at a young age, without experiencing kingship.
His initiation palanquin was named Prithvi.
600 individuals renounced with him.
He renounced while in his Tirthankar state, not in any other linga or kula.
He left for renunciation from Champapuri.
The forest where he renounced was Viharagruh Van.
He renounced under an Ashoka tree.
He performed his hair-plucking (Loch) in five handfuls.
Upon initiation, he attained Manahparyav Gyan.
The divine garment (Devadushya) was placed on his shoulders by Indra, remaining for one year or, according to another account, for his entire life.
His first alms were received from Sunand, consisting of Paramanna (kheer), on the second day in Mahapur.
At the time of receiving his first alms, five divine phenomena occurred: the proclamation "Aho Daan," the sound of divine musical instruments, a shower of gold coins, a shower of fragrant water and flowers, and a shower of garments.
The shower of gold coins amounted to twelve and a half crore.
The period of intense austerity (Utkrushta Tap) in his teachings was eight months.

Enlightenment:

His place of wandering was Aryabhumi.
He remained in the state of Chhadmastha (possessing imperfect knowledge) for 1 month.
He attained Keval Gyan (omniscience) on the 2nd day of the bright half of the month of Maha (Shastriya and Gujarati), under the Shatabhisha nakshatra in the Kumbha rashi, during the morning hours.
Kevel Gyan occurred in Champa Puri, in the Viharagruh Van, under a Patali tree.
The height of the Keval Gyan tree was 12 times the height of Bhagwan's body (840 Dhanush).
At the time of Keval Gyan, he was also observing a fourth-day fast.

Attributes and Teachings:

He possessed 34 Atishayas (miraculous qualities), with 4 at birth, 19 bestowed by deities, and 11 arising from the destruction of Karma.
His speech had 35 qualities, including Sanskrit and other desirable attributes.
He possessed eight Pratihaaryas: Ashoka tree, shower of Panchavarshee flowers, divine sound, white chamaras, lion throne, aureole, drumbeat, and umbrellas.
His Chaitya tree (first Pratihaarya) was 840 Dhanush in height.
He was free from 18 types of defects, including the five types of obstacles (Dan, Labh, Virya, Bhog, Upbhog), disgust, fear, ignorance, sleep, non-restraint, desire for sensual pleasures, laughter, sorrow, hatred, wrong faith, attachment, and restlessness.
His Tirth (community of followers) was established in his first Samavasaran.
His Tirth flourished until the time of Bhagwan Vimalnath.
There was a break in his Tirth for one Chaturthansh P Palyopam.
His first Ganadhar was Sulabh.
His first Sadhvi was Dharani.
Information about his first Shravaka and Shravika is unavailable.
His prominent royal devotee was Dviprushta.
His Yaksha was Kumar, and his Yakshini was Pravara.
His Ganadhar number was 66.
He had 72,000 Sadhus, 100,000 (or 106,000) Sadhvis, 215,000 Shravakas, and 436,000 Shravikas.
He had 6000 Kevalis, 6000 Manahparyav Gyanis, 5400 Avadhigyanis, 1200 Chaudapoorvis, 10,000 Vaiyavrittilabdhis, and 38,634 ordinary Sadhus.
Information about his Anuttar-upapatik Sadhus is unavailable.
72,000 Prakirnakas were composed.
The vows of a Sadhu are the four Mahavratas.
The vows of a Shravak are twelve vows.
He possessed three types of conduct: Samayika, Sukshma Samparay, and Yathakhyat.
The number of Tattvas (principles) in his teachings are either nine (Jiva, etc.) or three (Deva, Guru, Dharma).
He initiated four types of Samayika: Samyaktva, Shrut, Deshvirati, and Sarvavirati.
There were two types of Pratikraman in his teachings: Rai and Devsi.
Night meals are considered an upper-class virtue.
His disciples followed practices like Shyyatar, four vows, Jyeshtha, and Krutikarma, and also Achelkya, Dishik, and other practices.
The conduct of his Sadhus was easy to understand and follow.
His teachings were divided into two categories: Anagar (ascetic) and Agar (householder), or Shruta Charitra.
The attire of his Sadhus was of any color and any suitable measurement.
His householder life lasted for 18 lakh years.
His Keval Gyan period was 54 lakh years minus one month.
His total period of initiation was 54 lakh years.
His total lifespan was 72 lakh years.
He endured hardships like cold, heat, etc., with equanimity.

Liberation (Moksha):

He attained Moksha (liberation), reaching the eternal and unhindered bliss of the Siddha gati.
His final rites involved cremation (Agni Sanskar), not burial.
He attained Moksha in the month of Ashadha, on the 14th day of the bright half (Shastriya and Gujarati), under the Uttarabhadrapada nakshatra in the Meena rashi, during the afternoon.
His liberation occurred from Champa Puri, in a Kayotsarga posture.
His height in Moksha was 46.67 Dhanush.
His penance at the time of liberation was Maas Kshamana (fasting for a month).
The 600 individuals who renounced with him also attained Moksha.
At the time of his Moksha, the latter half of the fourth era was ongoing.
The time elapsed from his Moksha to the subsequent Tirthankar's (Vimalnath) Moksha was 30 Sagaropam.
The period remaining in the fourth era at the time of his Moksha was 46 Sagaropam, 65 lakh 84 thousand years, and 89 pakshas.
His Yugantakrut Bhumi was up to a countable number of men, and his Paryayantakrut Bhumi was for one day.
He remained in his previous existence for an incalculable period.
His previous existence ended after an incalculable period.
The interval between consecutive Tirthankars is mentioned.
No specific astonishing events are recorded as occurring during his Tirth.
No Chakravarti emperors emerged during his Tirth.
Dviprushta became a Vasudeva during his Tirth.
Vijay became a Baladeva during his Tirth.
No Prativuasudeva emerged during his Tirth.
The text concludes by detailing the 250 types of Abhishek performed at his birth, involving various celestial beings and officials, resulting in a total of 1 crore 60 lakh Abhisheks using 64,000 pitchers each.

The contact information for Muni Shri Dipratnasagarji Maharaj is provided at the end. The author's prolific work in Jain literature is highlighted in the final page.