Triloksthit Jin Gruh Stava

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Triloksthit Jin gruh Stava" by Kalyankirtivijay, based on the provided pages:

Title: Triloksthit Jin gruh Stava (Praise of Jin Temples Situated in the Three Worlds)

Author: Muni Kalyankirtivijay (also referred to as Muni Ravisinh in the final verse, suggesting he might be the scribe or a subsequent commentator)

Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan

Overview:

This text is a praise (stava) composed in the Apabhramsa language. It extols the eternal (sasvata) Jain temples situated in the Urdhva Loka (Upper World) and the non-eternal (asasvata) temples located in the Tiryak Loka (Middle World).

Structure and Content:

The text is divided into verses (padyas) with specific metrical structures:

• Verses 1-8: These eight verses, composed in the Sragvini meter (a four-line stanza of 20 syllables), specifically describe and praise the eternal Jin temples located in the Urdhva Loka.

  • Verse 1: Introduces the purpose of the stava, praising the Jin temples in the three worlds and seeking to overcome past life difficulties.
  • Verses 2-7: Detail the number of Jin temples in various celestial realms within the Urdhva Loka, including:
    • Sohammi Kalpa (3.2 million temples)
    • Isani Kalpa (2.8 million temples)
    • Sanatkumara (1.2 million temples)
    • Mahendra Kalpa (800,000 temples)
    • Brahma Loka (400,000 temples)
    • Lantaka and Sukra Kalpas (50,000 and 40,000 temples respectively)
    • Sahashrara Kalpa (1,000 temples)
    • Bhutrana, Anata, and Prana Kalpas (6,000, 2,000, and 2,000 temples respectively)
    • Arana, Acyuta, and other Kalpas (150, 150, 100 temples respectively)
    • Various Graiveyaka and Graiveyaka divisions (eleven hundred and thirteen hundred, seven hundred and eighteen hundred)
    • Five Uttara Vimanas (23,000,000 temples in total).
  • Verse 8: Summarizes the praise of Jin temples in the Urdhva Loka and expresses devotion.

• Verse 9: This verse, written in the Paddhatiya/Pajjhatika meter (a four-line stanza of 16 syllables), praises the Jin temples found in the abodes of Bhavanpati, Vyantara, and Jyotishi deities. It states that these temples are innumerable.

• Verse 10: This verse, also in the Paddhatiya/Pajjhatika meter, offers salutations to the eternal Jin temples located in the Tiryak Loka, specifically mentioning:

  • Kunda (Kundalpur)
  • Ruyaka
  • Manusya (human realm)
  • Nandishwar
  • Vaitadhya Mountains
  • Sumeru Giri (Mount Meru)
  • Himvant, Shikari, and Nishadha regions.
  • It also mentions the beauty of the Jin idols in these places.

• Verses 11-12: These verses, continuing the Paddhatiya/Pajjhatika meter, enumerate and praise prominent non-eternal Jin temples in the Bharat Kshetra (the region of Bharatavarsha):

  • Verse 11: Mentions Shatrunjaygiri (Palitana), Shri Ujjayant (Girnar), Sachuri, Viranagari, Kanakanti, Sankheshwar, Karhed, Stambhan, and Jalor.
  • Verse 12: Mentions Ashtavakragiri, Abuyam, Sametshikhar (Parasnath), and Bharuch. It concludes by stating that all these eternal and non-eternal temples, along with their Tirthankaras, are to be praised.

• Verse 13: This final verse is composed in the Ghatta meter (a two-line stanza of 32 syllables with caesura at 10-8-14). This verse indicates that Muni Ravisinh is the composer or scribe and offers a prayer for liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Name of the Stava:

The name "Triloksthit Jin gruh Stava" is derived from the third line of the first verse. Although the colophon mentions "Sve svata" (implying a connection to "sasvata-asasvata chaitya vandana"), the author chose "Triloksthit Jin gruh Stava" to reflect the comprehensive coverage of temples across the three worlds.

Manuscript Details:

• Date of Transcription: V.S. 1667 (Vikram Samvat), Chaitra Sud 13.
• Transcriber: Rishi Vidyavardhan, a disciple of Acharya Kulavardhansuri, who belonged to the lineage of Acharya Kushalavardhansuri of the Agamgachchha.

Significance:

This text serves as a valuable devotional and geographical compendium of Jain temples. It provides specific numbers of temples in various celestial abodes and lists important terrestrial pilgrimage sites, demonstrating the pervasiveness of Jain worship across different planes of existence. The detailed metrical structure and the historical colophon also offer insights into Jain literary traditions and monastic lineages.