Vajjalaggam

This is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Vajjalaggam" based on the provided information, including the title, author, publisher, catalog link, and the extensive table of contents and introductory notes.

Summary of Vajjalaggam by Jayavallabha (Edited by M. V. Patwardhan)

Title and Author:

• Title: Vajjalaggam (also known by various manuscript readings like Vajjālaya, Vijjāhala, Viāhala, Bajjālagga, Vijjālagga, Padyālaya, Vidyālaya, Prajñālaya, and Vajtālaya). The specific name given by the author is Jayavallabha.
• Author: Jayavallabha. The commentator Ratnadeva states that Jayavallabha was an eminent Śvetāmbara Jain poet. The anthology's name, Jayavallabha, might be his own name or a pen name.
• Commentator: Ratnadeva. However, one manuscript (Ms. C) attributes the commentary to Dhanasāra, a disciple of Śrī Siddhasūri, who lived in the 15th century AD (Samvat 1552 / 1496 AD), while Ratnadeva's commentary is dated 1393 Samvat / 1337 AD. This discrepancy is noted as a peculiarity of Ms. C.

Publisher and Publication Details:

• Publisher: Prakrit Text Society, Ahmedabad-9.
• Publication Year: 11000
• Series: Prakrit Text Series, No. XIV.
• Price: Rs. 21.00.
• Editor and Translator: Prof. M. V. Patwardhan, M.A.

Content and Structure:

• Nature of the Work: Vajjalaggam is an anthology of Prakrit gāthās (stanzas), compiled on the model of Hāla's Gāthāsaptashatī. Its distinguishing feature is the topical arrangement of stanzas into sections called vajjās (groups of stanzas).
• Original Extent: Originally, it is believed to have contained 700 stanzas, divided into 48 sections (vajjās), similar to Hāla's Gāthāsaptashatī.
• Vulgate Extent: The current Vulgate text, as published, contains 795 stanzas, including epilogue stanzas, and is divided into 95 sections (vajjās). This inflation is common in anthologies due to the addition of stanzas by later readers and scribes.
• Subject Matter: The author states in the introductory stanzas that the anthology covers the three aims of human life: Dharma (morality), Artha (worldly success), and Kama (sensual pleasures). While Kama is predominant, Artha also holds a significant position, with Dharma being subordinate. The work includes descriptive stanzas on nature and seasons, in addition to didactic and erotic content. It contains approximately 75 stanzas that are directly or suggestively descriptive of the sexual act.
• Literary Form and Merits: The stanzas are muktaka (isolates), complete in themselves, presenting a complete idea or situation with epigrammatic terseness. The language is essentially Jaina Mahārāṣṭrī Prakrit, exhibiting traits peculiar to Apabhramśa, indicating a later phase in Prakrit language development than the Pau macariya. The work is rich in figures of speech (alamkāras), with Upamā, Rūpaka, Dṛṣṭānta, Virodhābhāsa, Arthāntaranyāsa, and Śleṣa (pun) being commonly used. The Rasas (sentiments) of Śṛṅgāra (erotic) and Karuna (pathos) are particularly evident. The author's literary judgement is considered to be of a high order.
• Sources: The Vajjalagga is an anthology of stanzas selected by the author from the works of different poets. It shares many stanzas with Hāla's Gāthāsaptaśatī and other Prakrit literary works like Kuvalayamālā and Chappaṇṇayagāhāo. Stanzas from Vajjalaggam are also cited in later Alamkāra (rhetoric) works.
• Language: Essentially Jaina Mahārāṣṭrī Prakrit, it shows significant influence from Apabhramśa, a characteristic noted by the commentator Ratnadeva.

Content Analysis (Key Sections mentioned in the Introduction):

• Prologue (1-5): Discusses the nature, composition, recitation, and appreciation of poetry, emphasizing the secular and predominantly erotic nature of Prakrit poetry.
• Sections on Listeners (6-8): Highlights the difficulty in finding appreciative listeners for poetry and the importance of correct recitation.
• Sections on Gāthās (9-14): Discusses the emotional appeal and subtle meanings found in Prakrit stanzas, often conveyed through suggestion and ambiguity (śleṣa).
• Sections on Poetry (19-28): Elaborates on the poet's craft, the characteristics of good poetry, and the importance of metrical form, pleasing expression, and clarity of sense.
• Sections on Dharma, Artha, and Kama: Analyzes the distribution of stanzas related to these three main goals of human life, showing a balance between Artha and Kama, with Dharma playing a subordinate role.
• Topical Sections (Vajjās): The index lists 95 sections covering a wide range of topics, including:
  • Introductory: Prologue, Listeners, Gāthās, Poetry.
  • Ethical/Didactic: Good people, Wicked people, Friendship, Discreet conduct, Energy, Fate, Providence, Poverty, Master, Servant, Valiant Warrior, Elephant, Lion, Hunter, Deer, Camel, Malati flower, Bee, Swan, Moon, Clever people, Physician, Religious Mendicant, Camel, Elephant, Lion, Deer, Hunter, Palasa tree, Rainy Season, Summer Season, Winter, Cold Season, Old Age, Women, Deeds done in previous lives, Traveller, Fortune, Heart, Love, Haughtiness, Separation, Cupid, Female Messenger, Sati (Virtuous Woman), Unchaste Woman, Swan, Moon, Sandal Tree, Vadānala (Submarine Fire), Ocean, Gold, Sun, Lamp, etc.
• Manuscript Descriptions: The introduction provides detailed descriptions of the various manuscripts consulted for this edition, highlighting their peculiarities (e.g., Ms. C attributing the commentary to Dhanasara).
• Influence of Apabhramśa: The language exhibits significant traits of Apabhramśa, suggesting that Vajjalaggam represents a later stage in Prakrit linguistic development compared to works like Paumacariya.
• Allusions: While Jayavallabha was a Jain, the anthology contains numerous allusions to Brahmanical (Hindu) religion and mythology, indicating a liberal outlook.
• Literary Merit: The collection is noted for its literary merit, with epigrammatic terseness, vivid imagery, and skillful use of figures of speech.

Significance of the Title "Vajjalaggam":

The title is interpreted by the author himself in stanza 4. Vajja means a section or topic, and lagga refers to a group or collection. Therefore, Vajjalaggam signifies a collection of stanza-groups arranged topically, with each group dealing with a single topic.

Date of Compilation:

• Upper Limit: Approximately 750 AD, supported by the influence of Apabhramśa on its language and the derivation of a stanza from Vākpatirāja's Gauḍavaho (first half of the 8th century AD).
• Lower Limit: 1337 AD, based on the date of Ratnadeva's commentary.
• Overall Placement: Between 750 AD and 1337 AD.

Overall Summary:

Vajjalaggam is a significant anthology of Prakrit stanzas attributed to the Jain poet Jayavallabha. It is structured thematically into sections called vajjās, a feature that distinguishes it from Hāla's Gāthāsaptashatī. The work covers a broad spectrum of human life, with a particular emphasis on Kama (sensual love and pleasure), but also encompassing Dharma (morality) and Artha (worldly success). Its language is Jaina Mahārāṣṭrī Prakrit with noticeable Apabhramśa influences. The detailed introduction by Prof. M. V. Patwardhan delves into various aspects of the text, including its title, author, commentator, extent, dating, sources, comparative analysis with other Prakrit anthologies, linguistic features, subject matter, literary merits, and manuscript descriptions, making it a valuable resource for scholars of Prakrit literature. The commentary by Ratnadeva (and Dhanasāra in one manuscript) further aids in understanding the nuances of the stanzas.

This summary aims to capture the essence of the Vajjalaggam as presented in the provided introductory material.