Jain Digest 2006 04

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 28

SHRIMAD DEVACANDRAJI KRTA CAUBISI (Hindi-Gujarati)
Book review by Sahityacarva Girish B. Jani
BOOK
Printed on glossy art paper with full colour illustrations With Svopajña Balavabodha With Hindi and Gujarati glossary by Acarya Vijaykalapurnasuri Ed. Premal Kapadia 506 pp, all colour plates + 471 colour ill. + 159 decorative motifs and emblems Deluxe hardcover edition
REVIEW
This work is a pleasing marriage of scholarly commentary with an extraordinarily beautiful coffee table book! It is the product of the life-long dedication of a great scholar accomplished Adhyatma-yogin of high repute Upadhyaya Shrimad Devacandraji Vacaka :1689-1755 ) A brief biography of the author is beautifully presented in the Introduction. This presentation of the author's life-sketch is enriched with the quotations and references from the important works published in Gujarati) on Shrimad Devacandraji and his works. Shri Devacandraji's Stavanas, in content and calibre are reminiscent of Anandghanji's chovisi, and perhaps more difficult since they focus on Dravyanuyoga.
This "chovisi" (as 'Stavana-chovisi") has 25 stavanas.. The 24 stavanas are named after the 24 Tirthankaras and the last stavana is concluding in nature. These 25 stavanas have a total of 214 Gathas - verses composed in 18th Century Old Gujarati. The work 'chovisi' is published along with the author's own commentary - Svopajña Balavabodha and has Pujya Kalapurnasuriji's lucid and elaborate Gujarati glossary and its Hindi rendering by Pt.Basantilal Nalavaya Ratlamwala. Though this is a Chovisi (collection of 24 hymns)in the praise of the Lord, it also cultivates the deep and ultimate devotion towards the Supreme Enlightened Souls - the Lords. But this devotion is not merely an outcome of sheer emotional outburst. It is not the state of either fascination or helplessness. It is, rather, a means to help oneself to understand, recognize and know his own Self through dedication
The questions like how can the devotion lead to the knowledge of the Self, what is the secret of the real evolution of the Self, how far the means, as prescribed in the scriptures, how far the knowledge of reasoning, logic and philosophical complexities become helpful in the attainment of Moksha-the final release-all such questions find appropriate convincing answers in the journey of the Gathas in this Prayer-book.
The topics like the importance of meditation in the final realization of one's own self (sva-rupa), the attainment of one's real state of pure Atman by removing all impurities of Karmas, greatness of the tradition of chanting the holy names of the Lord, role of the knowledge of the science of logic in acquiring the true perception of the real nature of the self. The spontaneous flow of the most effective and charming words pregnant with the aesthetic excellence and philosophical spark arrests the mind of the readers. The philosophical topics are treated in an off-beat manner which clucidates the message of the author.
After every stavana, the essence of the stavana is given, which helps the reader to quickly grasp the central topic under discussion in particular stavana, and of course it also serves the purpose of brief revision. The present work is cmbellished with very beautiful and pleasing illustrations, miniature paintings, decorative items and photographs (630 in all). This really docunents the precious record of the very rich contribution from the Jain culture and tradition to the fields of Painting in particular and arts in general. The picturesque calligraphic presentation of the text of the Gathas has really enhanced the beauty and value of this excellent publication.
The beautiful illustrations include rare pattas, old miniatures and paintings representing some of the finest examples of Jain art heritage sourced painstakingly from Jain Jnana Bhandaras, museums, temples and private collections. The illustrations relevant to each stavan are appropriately exhibited providing exceptional charm to the whole work, which is unique in concept. The appendix contains the explanation of the specific philosophical terms, the list of the captions of the pictures and the acknowledgements regarding the sources of the illustrations etc.
The editor and the publishers surely deserve our hearty congratulations for publishing such an important work. which is perhaps more relevant today, for its scientitic treatment of asubject like devotion for the attainment of the Truth in its unique way. It is hoped that this work will be warmly welcomed by the students and scholars of philosophy as well as literature on devotion, and also the artists and the connoisseurs of the art heritage of India.
A limited supply of this book is available from JAINA Book Store for $70.00 (postage paid)
26 JAIN DIGEST- Summer 2006
Jain Education Intemational