Book Title: Hemchandracharyas Literary Accomplishment
Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaibhikkhu Sahitya Trust

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 23
________________ 44 Hemchandracharya's Literary Accomplishment works are impregnated with philosophy. Since they contain minute criticism of different philosophies and so they are of special appeal to intellectuals. Moreover the skill of construction and linguistic beauty are worth noticing. "Ayogavyavachchhedikavatri' shows detailed and special importance of Jain philosophy. He says that there is no philosophy superior to Jain philosophy and there is no school of logical thinking superior to Anekanta. This hymn proves the scriptures of other religions to be faulty and shows the importance the Jain dispensation in his eloquent speech. At the end of this hymn he shows his impartiality and glorifies the Jain philosophy because it is true. This book reveals his devotion to Lord Mahavir and his glorification of the Jain dispensation in simple and sweet words. In 'Anyayogavyavachchhedikadvatrinsika' he describes Bhagwan Mahavir's sipernatural powers (atishayas) evaluates logic, Vaishesik, Vedanta, Sankhya, Buddhistic, Charvak and other philosophics and shows the importance of Syadvad of the Jain philosophy. On this work Mallinath wrote in the fourteenth century his commentary titled 'Syadvadamanjari' which effectively reveals the philosophical maturity of this book of hymns. To the students of Jain philosophy Syadvadamanjari has incomparable importance. Hemchandracharya's Literary Accomplishment From both these dvatrinsikas 'Veetaragastotra' is a different type of hymn. 'Veetaragastotra' reveals a heart that is brimming over with devotion. Each of the twenty divisions of 'Veetaragastrotra' is called a 'prakash'. And these twenty prakashes contain 188 verses in all. Here and there this book reveals Hemchandracharya's philosophical genius. But mainly it reveals a devotee's heart. This book was written for King Kumarpal. It is a sweet devotional peom. In it philosophy is intermingled with devotion. It also reveals his assimilative and pervasive vision. It is an emotional joyful and modest poem. He says somewhere: 'Let my eyes always long for the happiness derived from looking with reverence at your face. Let my hands always propitiate you and let my ears always hear prayers said to you. Even it abstructed if my speech is eager to sign you praise, let it be auspicious. What use are other speeches ?' 45 "I am your servant, follower and dependant. O, God, please accept me. I have nothing more to say." The whole hymn runs in the 'Anustup metre and provides a sweet experience of devotion. That is why this heart-moving hymn has a very high place in the literature of hymns.'

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 21 22 23 24 25 26 27