Tirthankar 20 Munisuvrat Swami Bhagwan Parichay - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Tirthankar 20 Munisuvrat Swami Bhagwan Parichay," in English:

This document is the twentieth installment in a series titled "Tirthankar Parichay Shreni" (Series on the Lives of Tirthankaras), focusing on Tirthankar Munisuvrat Swami. Compiled by Muni Shri Deepratnasagarji, the book aims to present comprehensive information about the 20th Tirthankar of the current era in Bharatkshetra, structured across 185 points (Dwaras).

Key Aspects Covered and Summarized:

Compilation and Sources: The information is compiled from various foundational Jain scriptures and texts, including "Saptatishatsthan Prakaran" by Somtiptasuri, "Aavashyak" Niryukti and Vritti, "Pravachan Saroddhar," "Tirthoddharabhijnam Pan," "Trishashthishalakapurush Charitra," "Vadappan Mahapurush Parichay," "Samavay" Chaturlakshnasutra, and other Agamic texts.
Historical Context of the Book: The idea for this compilation began around 2001, but the author's extensive work on other Agamic scriptures delayed its completion. After publishing his 561st book, he found time to undertake this project. While "Saptatishatsthan Prakaran" is the primary source, information from other scriptures has also been incorporated, with some points from the former omitted and new ones added.
Addressing Textual Variations (Pathantar): The author acknowledges that variations exist in the numbers and details found in different Jain scriptures regarding counts of Ganadharas (chief disciples), Shramans (ascetics), Shramanis (nuns), etc. Examples are given for Tirthankar Ajitnath, Sambhavanath, and Suvidhinath, and for total Ganadhara counts. Similar variations are noted for the number of enlightened disciples (Paryavaji), female lay disciples (Shravikas), and nuns. The text also points out that even the birth, initiation, and enlightenment day details for Tirthankar Mallinath have variations within the Agamas themselves.
Biographical Details of Munisuvrat Swami: The bulk of the document provides specific details about Tirthankar Munisuvrat Swami, covering various stages of his life and spiritual journey. These include:
- Previous Lives: Details about his nine significant lives before becoming a Tirthankar, including those as King Shivketu, God Saudharma, King Kuberdutt, God Sanatskumar, King Vajrakundal, God Brahmalok, King Shri Varma, and God Aparajita.
- Last Life's Pre-Tirthankar Existence: His last life before birth was as King Shri Varma in Champanagari, in the Bharat region of Jambudweepa, situated south of Mount Meru. He was a 'Mandlik Raja' (a regional king).
- Incarnation and Birth: His soul descended from the Aparajita Anuttar Vimana. His conception occurred on the 15th of Shravan Sud (Ashvin) under the Shravan nakshatra in the Makar rashi. The gestation period was 9 months and 8 days. He was born at midnight.
- Birth Details: His birth nakshatra was Shravan, on the 8th of Jyeshtha Vad (Ashaadha), in the Makar rashi, at midnight. The era was the latter part of the fourth stage of the descending cosmic cycle.
- Birthplace and Ceremonies: He was born in Rajagriha city, in the Magadha country. At his birth, 250 celestial beings (including Dikumaris from various directions and Indras from different realms) performed his birth rituals, including bathing, adorning, and showering wealth.
- Parentage and Lineage: His mother was Padmavati Devi, and his father was King Sumitra. He belonged to the Gautam gotra and the Harivansh lineage.
- Physical Characteristics: He was of a dark complexion, with a tortoise (Kachhap) emblem. His height was 20 Dhanush (using Utsadha-angula) or 120 Angulas (using Atma-angula). He possessed immense strength (Ananta Bal) and possessed perfect physical attributes (1008 auspicious marks). He did not have a hood on his head. His stature was a perfect square (Samachaturasra).
- Married Life and Asceticism: He was married and lived as a householder for 7,500 years, reigning for 15,000 years as a regional king. He renounced the world at the age of 7,500 years.
- Initiation: His initiation took place on the 12th of Phalgun Sud (Chaitra), under the Shravan nakshatra in the Makar rashi, during the latter part of the day. He performed penance of 'Chhath Bhakta' (fasting for six days) at the time of initiation. He was accompanied by 1000 men. He left for his initiation from Rajagriha, heading to the Nilaguhavan forest, under an Ashoka tree. He performed five fistfuls of hair-pulling (Loch).
- Enlightenment (Kevalgyan): He attained Kevalgyan on the 12th of Maha Vad (Phalguna), under the Shravan nakshatra in the Makar rashi, in the eastern part of the day. This occurred in the Nilaguhavan forest near Rajagriha, under a Champak tree.
- Teachings and Disciples: He attained the Kevalgyan (omniscience) while in the state of "Chhath Bhakta" (fasting for six days). He possessed 34 types of 'Atishayas' (supernatural powers) and 35 virtues of speech. His eight 'Pratiharyas' (specific auspicious signs) included the Ashok tree. His lineage had no break in the Tirth. His chief disciples included Ganadhara Malli, the first nun Pushpavati, the principal devotee King Vijay, Yaksha Varun, and Yakshini Datta. His Sangha consisted of 18 Ganadharas, 30,000 monks, 50,000 nuns, 172,000 male lay disciples, and 350,000 female lay disciples.
- Liberation (Moksha): He attained liberation on the 9th of Jyeshtha Vad (Ashaadha), under the Shravan nakshatra in the Makar rashi, in the eastern part of the night, from the summit of Samet Shikharji. His posture at liberation was Kayotsarga. His height in Moksha was 13.33 units. At the time of his liberation, he was observing a month-long fast. 1000 souls attained liberation with him.
- Post-Liberation Impact: After Munisuvrat Swami, Naminath Swami attained Nirvana 6 lakh years later. His teachings led to the emergence of Chakravarti Padma, Vasudev Ram, Baldev Ram, and Prativasudev Ravan in his Tirth.
- Lifespan: His lifespan was 30,000 years. He lived as a householder for 22,500 years and as an ascetic for 7,500 years.

The book concludes with the author's contact information and a brief biography of Muni Shri Deepratnasagarji, highlighting his prolific literary output and multilingualism.