Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra Parv 1 2 - Book Summary

This is a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra Parv 1 & 2," translated into Hindi by Krishnalal Varma and published by the Trustees of Godiji Jain Temple, Mumbai. The text focuses on the lives and deeds of significant figures in Jainism, particularly the first two Parvas (sections) which cover the characters of Lord Adinathji and Emperor Bharat Chakravarti, and Lord Ajitnathji and Emperor Sagar Chakravarti.

Here's a breakdown of the summary:

1. Introduction and Publisher's Statement:

Title: Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra Parv 1 & 2.
Author: Kalikal Sarvajna Shrimad Hemchandracharya (original Sanskrit text).
Translator: Sahitya Bhooshan Krishnalal Varma (Retired Hindi Organizer, Municipal Schools, Bombay).
Publisher: Trustees of Godiji Jain Temple and Charities, Mumbai.
Purpose: The publication aims to spread Jain teachings to the Hindi-speaking population, following the inspiration of the late Acharya Shri Vijay Vallabh Surishwarji. The price is kept nominal to facilitate wider access.
Content Scope: The text is a part of a larger series of Jain scriptures, with the first two parvas being translated for this volume.

2. Structure and Content of the Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra:

The Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra is a Charitanuyog text, a section of Jain scriptures dealing with the lives of great souls.
It comprises ten parvas, each detailing the biographies of various significant figures.
Parva 1: Covers the lives of Tirthankar Rishabhdevji and Bharat Chakravarti.
Parva 2: Covers the lives of Tirthankar Ajitnathji and Sagar Chakravarti.
Subsequent Parvas: The summary outlines the content of the remaining eight parvas, detailing the Tirthankaras, Chakravartis, Vasudevas, Prativasudevas, and Balabhadras covered in each.
"Shalaka Purusha": These are souls who attain immense power and status in human life and are destined for liberation (moksha) in the current or a future human birth. There are 63 such figures in the current avasarpini era. The text explains that some souls hold multiple Shalaka titles across different lives, leading to fewer unique souls (56) than the total count (63).
Family Details: The text also mentions the mothers (60) and fathers (51) of these figures, noting that some figures share parents due to their simultaneous occurrences or lineage.
Past Lives: It emphasizes that the Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra often describes the past lives of Tirthankaras leading up to their final birth, with Lord Rishabhdev's first life described as that of Dhanasarthavah.
Tirthankar Naming Karma: It's noted that a soul destined to be a Tirthankar binds the Tirthankar Namkarma in their third human life after attaining sammyaktva (right faith) through the worship of the Vimsati Pad or Sthanaka (twenty steps).

3. Detailed Summary of Parva 1 (Lord Adinathji and Bharat Chakravarti):

Chapter 1: Praise of the 24 Tirthankaras: Begins with invocations and prayers to the Arhats (Tirthankaras) and lists hymns praising the first Tirthankara, Rishabhdevji, and the second, Ajitnathji, and the third, Sambhavnathji, and continues with praise for all 24 Tirthankaras.
Chapter 2: Dhanasarthavah's Biography (First Life of Lord Adinathji):
- Describes the life of Dhanasarthavah, a wealthy merchant.
- Details his virtuous qualities, immense wealth, and benevolent actions.
- Narrates his journey to Vasantpur, the description of summer and monsoon seasons during the journey.
- Includes an encounter with Acharya Dharmaghosha and a discourse on Jainism.
- Key Events: Dhanasarthavah's meticulous care for his caravan, his adherence to Dharma, his eventual death, and rebirth as a soul in the Saudharma heaven.
- Past Lives: The summary details a series of past lives of Lord Adinathji, including:
  - As a Yugaliya (living in pairs) in Uttarkuru.
  - As a Deva in Saudharma heaven.
  - As Mahabal in Mahavideh Kshetra, refuting atheistic views.
  - As Lalitang Dev in the second heaven, describing the four states of existence.
  - As Vanajangha in Mahavideh Kshetra.
  - As a Yugaliya in Uttarkuru.
  - As a Deva in Saudharma heaven.
  - As Jivanand Vaidya.
  - As a Deva in Achyuta heaven.
  - As Vajranabha Chakravarti, describing labdhis (spiritual powers) and the Vimsati Pad (twenty virtues).
  - As a Deva in Anuttar Vimana.
Chapter 3: Lord Rishabhdev's Character and Ministry:
- Describes Lord Rishabhdev's birth, the fourteen auspicious dreams of his mother, Marudevi.
- Details his birth ceremony, naming, and education.
- Describes his youth, beauty, marriage to Sunanda, and household life.
- His rajyabhishek (coronation), education in arts, and description of spring.
- His renunciation (vairagya), digambara (state of being unclothed) path, and the receiving of ikshu-rasa (sugarcane juice) from Shreyanshkumar.
- His establishment of the Aditya Peetha and the Dharmachakra.
- His attainment of Kevaljnana (omniscience), samavasarana (divine assembly), and deshna (sermon).
- Marudevi's attainment of kevaljnana and contemplation.
- Bharat's praise and sermon on the impermanence of the world and the path to moksha (knowledge, perception, conduct).
- Establishment of the fourfold Sangha, the initiation of hundreds, and the composition of Chaturdash Purva and Dvadashanga.
- The role of Gommukha (guardian deity) and Chakreshwari (guardian goddess).
Chapter 4: Bharat's Deeds:
- Describes Bharat Chakravarti's acquisition of the fourteen ratnas (jewels) and his conquest of the six khandas (continents) of the earth.
Chapter 5: Bharat and Bahubali's Story:
- Details the famous conflict between Bharat and Bahubali.
Chapter 6: Further Events:
- The origin of Parivrajakas (wandering ascetics).
- Kapil becoming a Parivrajaka, atisayas (miraculous powers), Ashtapad, samavasarana, the twelve Parishadas, the establishment of Indrotsav, and vihara (travels).
- The origin of Brahmins and the Yagnopavita (sacred thread).
- Mention of future Trishashti Shalaka Purushas.
- The Nirvana of Shatruj, Pushkar Ganadharadi monks.
- Lord Adinathji's family and Nirvana Mahotsav.
- Bharat building a temple on Ashtapad and praising the Lord.
- Bharat's renunciation, attainment of kevaljnana in householder life, his initiation, and liberation.

4. Detailed Summary of Parva 2 (Lord Ajitnathji and Emperor Sagar Chakravarti):

Chapter 1: Lord Ajitnathji's First Life:
- Describes the life of King Vimalvahan.
- His renunciation, teachings on governance, initiation, adherence to samitis (practices) and guptis (restraints), and endurance of parisahas (hardships).
Chapter 2: Celestial Birth and Dreams:
- Describes Ajitnathji's birth as a celestial being in Vijay Vimana.
- Details the fourteen dreams of the mothers of the Tirthankaras and their interpretations.
- Describes Ajitnathji's birth and the celebratory janmotsav by Indra and other deities.
- Narrates Sagar's birth and his janmotsav.
Chapter 3: Childhood, Youth, Marriage, and Renunciation:
- Describes the childhood, youth, beauty, and marriage of both Ajitnathji and Sagar.
- Covers their attainment of kingdoms, renunciation, and Ajitnathji's initiation.
- Explains Gunsthana (stages of spiritual development).
Chapter 4: Ajitnathji's Kevaljnana and Ministry:
- Describes Ajitnathji's attainment of Kevaljnana, utsav (celebration), samavasarana, deshna, dharmadhyana (meditation on Dharma).
- Explains the eight types of karma and the fourteen lokas (worlds).
- The establishment of Ganadharas (chief disciples), the guardian deity Mahashraya, and the guardian goddess Ajitabala.
- The importance of Samyaktva.
Chapter 5: Sagar's Conquest and Emperorhood:
- Details Sagar Chakravarti's conquest of the six khandas of the earth and his attainment of the Chakravarti title.
Chapter 6: Sagar's Questioning, Sons, and Renunciation:
- Covers Sagar's dialogue with Lord Ajitnathji.
- Describes the Rakshasa vansha (dynasty).
- Narrates the journey of Sagar's sixty thousand sons.
- Mentions Ashtapad mountain and the burning of sixty thousand princes by Nagendra.
- Describes Indra's intervention in the guise of a Brahmin.
- Sagar's grief, uddesha (intent), Bhagirath's action of bringing the Ganga to the ocean.
- The púrvamantra of sixty thousand princes.
- Sagar's renunciation and liberation.
- Ajitnathji's family and Nirvana Mahotsav on Sammet Shikhar.

This summary provides a detailed overview of the content presented in the provided pages, highlighting the key figures, events, and teachings within these specific parvas of the Trishashti Shalaka Purush Charitra.