Triveni Snan - Book Summary | JainGPT

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Triveni Snan" by Sukhlal Sanghavi:

The book Triveni Snan (meaning "Triple River Bath") by Sukhlal Sanghavi derives its name from the concept of a Triveni Sangam, a confluence of three rivers. Traditionally, this refers to the sacred site in Prayagraj where the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers are believed to meet. The text explains that while the physical confluence of Ganga and Yamuna is visible, the ancient belief includes the subterranean flow of Saraswati. This confluence of three streams, representing a continuous flow of water, provides sustenance and is a source of attraction for humanity, often becoming a pilgrimage site ('Tirtha'). These sacred sites are not just chosen for their natural beauty and convenience but also for the deep cultural and spiritual history intertwined with them, featuring an unbroken lineage of scholars, saints, and ascetics. The sacredness of such places, like Triveni, is sustained by knowledge, devotion, and spirituality.

The book itself mirrors this concept of a Triveni Sangam by bringing together three individuals and three core values or approaches.

The three individuals are:

Socrates: Representing knowledge and understanding, or virtue (Sheel).
Ramakrishna Paramahansa: Representing devotion (Bhakti), and synthesis/harmony (Samanvay), alongside virtue.
Mahatma Gandhi: Representing action (Karma), virtue (Sheel), synthesis/harmony (Samanvay), and Satyagraha (truth-force).

The three values or streams of thought are:

Knowledge (Gyan), Devotion (Bhakti), and Action (Karma).
Alternatively, Virtue (Sheel), Synthesis/Harmony (Samanvay), and Satyagraha (truth-force).

The author elaborates on each individual:

Socrates: He is presented as a symbol of virtue and the embodiment of knowledge and understanding. The book provides a detailed and inspirational account of Socrates' life, including the historical context of Greece, Athens, and Sparta. It highlights how the conflict and intellectual environment of these city-states awakened Socrates' inner conscience, leading him to teach the concept of "true understanding" (Sakchi Samajh), which he saw as direct, inner intuition rather than indirect knowledge. This understanding, he believed, is inseparable from virtue, echoing the Jain principle that right vision and right understanding are synonymous with silence or self-control, and that virtue is right understanding, indicating their inherent oneness. Socrates' dedication to spreading this true understanding ultimately led him to face death, which he embraced as a victory, marking the ultimate test of his virtue.
Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa: He is described as an extraordinary Indian spiritual figure of the last century, who, like Socrates, transcended his origins to become a globally recognized personality. The text attributes his widespread recognition, particularly in a shorter timeframe than Socrates, to the advent of a global language medium (English), which facilitated the spread of his teachings. The author explores the mystery behind an unlettered village Brahmin priest becoming such a revered figure, attributing it to his spiritual depth, devotional fervor towards Kali, his profound wisdom and eloquent speech. The book delves into his spiritual strength, his devotional practices, and the underlying wisdom in his sayings and parables, which attracted many scholars and transformed Narendra into Vivekananda. Vivekananda, in turn, nurtured the seeds of knowledge and action within Ramakrishna's devotion, making the Ramakrishna Mission a symbol of knowledge, devotion, and action. The text also notes Ramakrishna's embodiment of the principle of religious harmony and the assimilation of all virtues.
Mahatma Gandhi: The author's portrayal of Gandhi is based on direct personal experience and participation in Gandhi's activities during his lifetime, unlike the more indirect knowledge of Socrates and Ramakrishna. The author emphasizes his close association with Gandhi, his participation in various movements, and his continuous engagement with public upliftment activities influenced by individuals like Nanabhai Bhatt, who strived to implement Gandhi's vision. The author's critical and objective analysis of Gandhi's life philosophy, thoughts, and methods, honed through teaching and practice, lends significant weight to his writing on Gandhi. The author states that Gandhi is a living song, a harmonious integration of Indian culture and spirituality, and that the book successfully presents a comprehensive view of Gandhi's multifaceted life. The text discusses various aspects of Gandhi's philosophy, such as the medium of mother tongue, village structure, decentralization, views on machinery, relationships with grace and political parties, abolition of war, and basic education, explaining how these stemmed from the inexhaustible wellspring of his non-violence.

The book also includes a section on Vinoba Bhave, seeing him as the living continuation of Karma Yoga and non-violence after Gandhi. The author acknowledges Vinoba's diverse activities, particularly the "Bhoodan" (Land Gift) movement, and his own active and generous perspective aligns with Vinoba's vision. The author believes that anyone who truly understands and tries to implement Gandhi's life philosophy and is open to new, auspicious forces cannot remain detached from Vinoba's thoughts and activities, thus viewing the supplement on Vinoba as part of Gandhi's life stream.

The author of this book is Shri. Manubhai, also known as "Darshak" and Manubhai Pali. His writings are highly popular for their concise sentences, common yet cultured language, extensive reading, deep contemplation, firsthand experience of various public upliftment activities, and frank, unbiased articulation. The book Triveni Paratak (likely referring to the Triveni Snan itself) is described as a true "Triveni Tirtha" (pilgrimage site). The reviewer, Shri "Darshak," states that he has bathed in it with a healthy mind and experienced coolness, and believes that anyone who partakes in it will not deny the truth of his experience.