Vividh Tirth Kalpa Ek Samikshtamak Adhyayan - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Vividh Tirth Kalpa: Ek Samikshtamak Adhyayan" by Dr. Kasturchand Kasliwal:

This academic study, "Vividh Tirth Kalpa: Ek Samikshtamak Adhyayan," by Dr. Kasturchand Kasliwal, focuses on the Vividh Tirth Kalpa, a significant Jain text translated from Sanskrit to Hindi prose by Dr. Mahendrakumarji Nyayacharya. Kasliwal notes that this particular work by Dr. Mahendrakumarji has been relatively understudied, possibly due to the author's more prominent contributions to the field of logic and his extensive editorial work on other scholarly texts. Vividh Tirth Kalpa is presented as Dr. Mahendrakumarji's sole translation from Sanskrit to Hindi.

Origin and Historical Context:

The Vividh Tirth Kalpa was composed by the Shvetambara Jain Acharya Shri Jinaprabh Suri on the seventh day of the waxing moon in the month of Jyeshtha, in the year 1442 of the Vikram Samvat (1385 CE). This was a period marked by significant destruction of temples by Muslim invaders. The first Kalpa (chapter) of the work describes an incident where a beautiful image of Lord Adinath, established by Javadishah, was destroyed by the "Mlecchas" (foreigners/invaders) in 1412 CE (Samvat 1369). Two years later, in 1414 CE (Samvat 1371), the merchant Samarshah had the broken idol restored, experiencing great religious merit.

The study highlights another historical detail from the Shatrujay Kalpa within Vividh Tirth Kalpa. It mentions that the renowned minister Vastupal, fearing the destruction of the Shatrujay pilgrimage site by the Mlecchas in the Kali Yuga, had magnificent idols of Lord Adinath and Lord Pundrik secretly installed in an underground chamber. His fears were realized when the idol of Lord Adinath was indeed destroyed by the Mlecchas.

Significance of Vividh Tirth Kalpa:

Kasliwal emphasizes that Vividh Tirth Kalpa serves as a crucial historical document due to the mentions of various historical figures and events by Shri Jinaprabh Suri. Dr. Mahendrakumarji's Hindi translation has made this historical composition accessible to Hindi-speaking readers. Although the manuscript consulted by Kasliwal does not explicitly mention Dr. Mahendrakumarji's name or the date of his translation, Kasliwal confirms its existence and importance.

The author then proceeds to provide an introduction to each of the 62 Kalpas within the work. As Shri Jinaprabh Suri was a Shvetambara saint, his descriptions of the pilgrimage sites reflect a Shvetambara perspective. The text also offers insights into the Jain pilgrimage sites that existed in the country in 1385 CE.

Overview of Key Kalpas (Chapters):

The summary then details the content of several significant Kalpas:

1. Shatrujay Kalpa: This is the first and most important Kalpa, focusing on Shatrujay, a preeminent pilgrimage site for the Shvetambara community, akin to Sammed Shikharji for the Digambaras. Shatrujay is also known as Pundrik Tirth because the great ascetic Pundrik attained liberation there with five crore monks. Numerous Tirthankaras and ascetics have achieved liberation from this sacred mountain. It is believed all 24 Tirthankaras of the current era visited this mountain. The first Chakravarti, Bharat Maharaj, built a vast temple there housing the main idol of Lord Adinath. The Kalpa mentions various rulers and figures like Maharaj Samprati, Vikramaditya, Satavahana, Vaghbhatta, Padalipta, Aama, and Datta who renovated and protected this mountain. Shri Javadi Shah is also mentioned for his renovation and building a pond in the Ajitnath temple. The Kalpa lists the names of individuals who undertook the renovation of Shatrujay Tirth, contributing historical details. The Kalpa was completed on the seventh day of the waxing moon in Jyeshtha, 1385 VS, and contains a Hindi translation of 133 Sanskrit verses.
2. Raivatakgiri Sankshipt Kalpa: This Kalpa describes the glory of Raivatakgiri, also known as Girnar. It follows the descriptive style of earlier Acharyas like Padalipta and Vajraswami's disciple. It details Lord Neminath's initiation near Chhatrashila, his attainment of Kevala Gyana in Sahasramra forest, his preaching in Laksharam forest, and his liberation from the highest peak, Avalokan. Lord Krishna participated in Lord Neminath's three auspicious events. The Kalpa also describes other temples on Raivatakgiri.
3. Shri Parshvanath Kalpa: This Kalpa describes the origin of the Parshvanath pilgrimage site at Stambhatirtha. It contains 74 verses. It mentions that seeing the idol of Lord Parshvanath here cured the ailment of Abhayadev Suri.
4. Ahichhatra Nagari Kalpa: This Kalpa narrates the history of Ahichhatra Tirth, focusing on the suffering inflicted upon Lord Parshvanath by Kamatha before his Kevala Gyana. An idol of Lord Parshvanath was installed at the site of this suffering.
5. Dadri (Abu Parvat) Kalpa: This Kalpa provides a detailed account of Mount Abu. It mentions the construction of Vimalvasati in 1088 VS and Lunigvasati in 1288 VS, which housed a black stone idol of Lord Parshvanath. Both were destroyed by the Mlecchas. Vimalvasati was later renovated in 1243 VS by Lalla, son of Mahansingh, and Lunigvasati was renovated by Pithad, son of Chandasimha. This Kalpa contains 52 verses.
6. Mathura Puri Kalpa: This Kalpa offers a detailed history of Mathura city and its various important locations like Chaurasi Mathura.
7. Ashvavabodha Tirth Kalpa: This Kalpa extensively describes the Ashvavabodha Tirth and Sakulika Vihara. It states that the Vikram Samvat began 1,184,470 years after Lord Munisuvratnath's Nirvana, and King Vikramaditya appeared 1,194,972 years after that.
8. Ayodhya Nagari Kalpa: Ayodhya is described as the birthplace of Lords Rishabhdev, Ajitnath, Sambhavnath, Abhinandananath, Sumatinath, and Anantanath. It was also the birthplace of Lord Mahavir's ninth Ganadhara, Shri Achalbhanu, and seven Kulakaras, including Vimalvahan. The Kalpa also details the installation of a divine idol of Lord Parshvanath.
9. Hastinapur Kalpa: Hastinapur is the birthplace and the site of initiation and Kevala Gyana for Tirthankaras Shantinath, Kunthunath, and Aranatha. It was the place of Lord Rishabhdev's first alms. The Samavasarana of Lord Mallinath was present here, and astonishing events like the rescue of seven hundred monks by Vishnukumar Muni occurred.

The summary continues to list and briefly describe the subjects of many other Kalpas, including: Satpur Tirth, Ashtapad Mahatirth, Mithila Tirth, Ratnavahpur, Apapa Brihatkalpa, Kanyanayan Mahavir Pratima Kalpa, Pratishthanpur, Nandishwar Dwip, Kampilyapur, Anahilpur (Patan), Shankhpur, Nasikyapur, Harikankho Nagar, Kapadiya, Shuddhadanti, Avantidesh, Champa Puri, Patliputra, Shravasti, Varanasi Nagari, Mahavir Ganadhar Kalpa, Kokavasati Parshvanath Kalpa, Kotishila Tirth, Vastupal Tejpal Mantri Kalpa, Dhipuri Tirth, Dipuro Stava, Chaurasi Mahatirth Name Sangraha Kalpa, Samavasaran Rachna Kalpa, Kundugeshwar Nabheydev Kalpa, Vyaghri Kalpa, Ashtapadgiri Kalpa, Hastinapur Tirth Stavana, Kanyanayan Mahavir Kalpa Parishisht, Kulya Pakasth Rishabhdev Stuti, Amarkund Padmavati Devi Kalpa, Chaturvinsati Jin Kalyanaka Kalpa, Tirthankaratisay Vichar, Panch Kalyanaka Stavana, Kollapak Manikya Dev Tirth Kalpa, Shri Pur Antariksh Parshvanath Kalpa, Stambhak Kalpa (remaining part), Phalvardhi Parshvanath Kalpa, Ambika Devi Kalpa, and Panch Parmeshthi Namaskar Kalpa.

Conclusion:

The study concludes by reiterating that Vividh Tirth Kalpa contains stories from 62 different Kalpas. Dr. Mahendrakumarji's translation is in clear, standard Hindi prose, effectively transforming the entire work into a collection of narratives.