Jaina Heritage in Gujarat

Author(s): Francoise Mallison
Publisher: Z_Nirgrantha_1_022701.pdf and Nirgrantha_2_022702.pdf and Nirgrantha_3_022703.pdf

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Françoise Mallison
Nirgrantha
bhanitā of Narasimha. K. K. Shastri quotes the example of an old version of Vaisnavajana
bearing this signature (Shastri, Narasimha Maheto, 264). 21. Shastri, Kavicaritra, 203-216, and Desai, Prācīna Kavio., 254-260. 22. Ed. K. K. Shastri, Śri Mahābhārata (Gujarati prabandha), II, Bombay 1933, 274. 23. Bhayani, “Vaisnavajana," Bhāśāvimarśa, 165. 24. This vārtā records the life-story of Krsnadāsa, the fourth of the eight astachāpa, himself
hailing from Gujarat. The account of Mira-bãi is in the first episode (prasaṁga) : in order to prove his exclusive faith in the community of Vallabhācārya, Krsnadāsa refuses Mira's offer of hospitality and her gifts (see Ed. G. D. Parekh, Caurāsi vaisnavana ki vārtā, Mathura
1970, 530f., and R. Barz, The Bhakti Sect of Vallabhācārya, Faridabad 1976, 41 and 213f.) 25. Pada : 'Padhāryā Hari Kumkumane pagale", Ed. Jesalpura, Narasimha Mahetānī., 241. "The
Vallabhan gaddi at Surat which serves the svarüpa of Balakrsna was not always acknowledged by the other gaddi of the sampradaya. It owes its installation at Surat in
the year 1670 more to internal problems of inheritance than to Muslim persecution. 26. in fact, I was even told once at Mālīā, a small town near Junagadh in Saurashtra where
Narasimha Mahetā is supposed to have spent his life, that Narsi was not a 'pusti-pusti
bhakta' but a 'maryādā-pusti bhakta'! 27. Ed. I. S. Desai, Brhat Kävyadohana, VIII, Bombay 1913, 458-470. 28. See the introduction of M. T. Teliwala to his edition of the Vidvanmandanam of
Śri Vitthaleśvara, the son of Vallabhācārya, Kaman 1926, 3f. 29. Bhayani, "Vaişnavajana", Bhāṣāvimarsa, 163-167. 30. K. N. Joshi, "Narasimha Mahetae Vaisnavajanani vyākhyārupe sarjelā padani mīmāṁsā,"
Svadhyāya, 11-4, Baroda 1973, 326-328. 31. Shastri, Narasimha Maheto.,264f. 32. Ed. A. N. Bhojak, "Kavi Māvā-Māvaji racita Vaisnavabhaktaprabandhacopai," Sambodhi, 6
3,4 Ahmedabad 1977-78, 1-5. 33. Bhayani, "Vaişnavajan," Bhāşāvimarsa, 166. 34. According to K. N. Joshi, "Narasimha Mahetae.," Svādhyāya, 324f., the word Vaisnavajana
might have been coined by Narasimha and is less frequent than harijana. 35. Bhayani in "Narasimha-svadhyāya-3 : Vaisnava Narasimha," Bhasāvimarsa, 7-3, Ahmedabad
1984, 4, lists the different aspects of the Vaişnavism of Narasimha Mahetā which includes
Jainism, Näthism and the sambhoga-śrmgara type of bhakti. 36. In fact the unique manuscript of this poem was produced for a Jaina collection, according
to the colophon. 37. It is remarkable that the influence is mutual. Instances of Jaina monks composing Gujarāti
verses on the Krsna legend and miracles can be quoted; see, for instance, H. Bhayani, "Jalakamala prabhātiyāni prăcinatā ane tenui kartstva," Anusandhana, Ahmedabad 1972, 55-78 (reprinted from Svādhyāya, 7, Baroda 1969 398-412); or the Somakrta Sudāmāsára,