Vitrag Vinti

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Vitrag Vinti" by Rasila Kadia, based on the provided catalog link and page content:

Book Title: Vitrag Vinti Author(s): Rasila Kadia Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/229323/1

Overview:

"Vitrag Vinti" is a devotional Jain text presented by Rasila Kadia, originating from the library of La. Da. Vidyamandir, Ahmedabad. The manuscript is written on a single leaf, is in good condition, and is composed in Prakrit. It contains a total of 19 verses (Gathas). The back of this leaf contains another work titled "Adinath Vinati," whose script is slightly larger than the main text. The manuscript has 15 lines per page, with approximately 50 words per line. It features red markings in the margins, but no holes are present. There are square shapes on either side of the text, some filled with color and some empty. The text does not contain the date of composition or the author's name, but the script is estimated to be from the 15th century.

Content and Themes:

The "Vitrag Vinti" is an "unknown author's supplication to the Vitaraags (the Jinas, the free from passion)." The central theme of this prayer is the deep sorrow and anguish of a devotee who, after an immense cycle of rebirths (ananta-kaal na bhav-bhramanthi pidayela hrudayni vyatha), expresses their pain and plea to the Lord (Prabhu) in a profoundly devotional manner.

The devotee, feeling overwhelmed by the cycle of existence, expresses their lament by comparing themselves to a child addressing their parents. Just as a child's babbling is met with joy and not distress by their parents, the devotee humbly implores the Lord to receive their pleas with grace.

A significant portion of the prayer revolves around the devotee's feeling of being left behind and unsupported in their struggle through the ocean of worldly existence (bhav-samudra). Despite the Lord's presence, the devotee questions why their liberation (uddhaar) is not occurring. They question if they have truly accepted the Lord as their guide. The devotee expresses feeling abandoned in the terrifying forest of existence (bhav-rūpī araṇya), like a deer separated from its herd, left alone by the compassionate Lord.

The devotee acknowledges the Lord's perfectly detached and liberated state, free from all worldly affairs (sakal vyaparo thi mukta). However, they plead for their own liberation from suffering. They question the reasons for this apparent lack of grace, pondering if it's due to the fault of their own karma (karma-no dosh), the influence of time (kaal-no anubhav), or their own inherent unworthiness (dushṭa emāri j ayogyatā). Even though the Lord is capable, compassionate, and constantly engaged in the welfare of the three worlds (tribhuvana na upakaar ma nirat), why is the devotee, who humbly prays, not being granted liberation (nirvṛti)?

Specific Examples from the Text (as highlighted in the summary):

• The devotee addresses the Lord as the "grandfather of the three worlds" and likens their plea to a child's speech.
• They question why, after an eternity of wandering in the cycle of birth and death, they are still not liberated, despite having encountered the Lord.
• They express the feeling of being left alone like a deer separated from its herd in the terrifying forest of existence, even by the compassionate Lord.
• They directly ask if the fault lies with karma, time, or their own unworthiness.
• The devotee questions why, despite the Lord's omnipotence, compassion, and concern for others, they are not receiving liberation.

Concluding Devotion:

The poem concludes with a beautiful and deeply personal expression of devotion. The devotee wishes for their eyes to perpetually drink the nectar of beauty from the Lord's lotus-like face, which is adorned with petals of eyes and lashes of pistils.

Furthermore, the devotee proclaims that the Lord is their only mother, father, brother, friend, relative, refuge, and destination, not just in this life but in all lives to come.

Artistic Merit:

The summary praises the poet's skill in expressing various emotions like suffering (vyathā), pleading (yāchanā), humility (dīnatā), authority (adhikār), and devotion (bhakti). The Prakrit language is described as sweet (madhur), and the poet's style is characterized as inspiring (prasādik) and possessing charming poetic beauty (padalalitya). The text also exhibits a certain brilliance (chamatkriti) that is reminiscent of the works of the great poet Dhanpal, such as his "Rishabha Panchashika."

In essence, "Vitrag Vinti" is a heartfelt and eloquent prayer of a soul deeply entangled in the cycle of rebirth, seeking ultimate liberation and solace from the compassionate and detached Jinas. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of devotion and the earnest longing for spiritual freedom.