Ancient Jaina Hymns

Author(s): Charlotte Krause
Publisher: Oriental Institute

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(born in V. S. 1210 and died in 1277). Another text, "The Munisuvrata-stavana", so far known from literary references only, is the creation of that renowned and erudite Acarya Jñānasagara Sūri, who died in V. S. 1460. The author of the "Varakiṇa-Parsvanatha-stavana" is Hemavimala Suri, known as a Jaina theologian and as an eminent ecclesiastic dignitary, who died in V. S. 1583, and many of whose numerous disciples are, in their turn, famous for their literary achievements. Nayavimala, author of the "Sankheśvara-Pārsvanatha-stavana", is identical with the celebrated "Jñanavimala Suri", many of whose devotional songs, Rasas and exegetical works both in Sanskrit and Gujarati, are well-known.
The "Munisuvrata-stavana", moreover, is of historical interest by its reference to "Asvavabodha" or "Šakunikāvihara", that famous shrine of the Jainas at Broach, which, believed to have been in existence already at the time of the composition of the Sacred Books, i. e. more than 2000 years ago, and for the last time directly mentioned as existing at the time of Vastupila and Tejapila, i. e. about 700 years ago, is described in our text as a still flourishing place of pilgrimage of miraculous sanctity. Our hymn thus represents the last definite record of the existence of that sacred place, its Requiem, as it were.
Similarly, the Devakuladinatha-stavana extols the sanctity of Devakula, another famous old place of pilgrimage, identical with to-day's Delwara near Udaipur, which once resounded with the chimes of the bells from 300 Jaina temples, and is now nothing but an insignificant village with three Jaina temples, surrounded by acres of ruins.