Datta Cult for the Reason That I Had My Deep Interest in Datta Studies Which Was Underling in Me from My Early Childhood
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TEMBESVĀMĪ’S DVISĀHASRĪ – A Study The Thesis Submitted to The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Sanskrit) By UPADHYAY MIHIRKUMAR SUDHIRBHAI Guided by Prof. Dr. Jaydev A. Jani Department of Sanskrit, Pali & Prakrit, Faculty of Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, VADODARA 390 002 Gujarat INDIA September 2012 TEMBESVĀMĪ’S DVISĀHASRĪ – A Study The Thesis Submitted to The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (in Sanskrit) By UPADHYAY MIHIRKUMAR SUDHIRBHAI Guided by Head Prof. Dr. Jaydev A. Jani Dr. R. K. Panda Department of Sanskrit, Pali & Prakrit, Faculty of Arts, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, VADODARA 390 002 Gujarat INDIA September 2012 Acknowledgement At the outset I thank my guiding teacher Prof. Dr. Jaydev Jani whose able and sincere guidance has given the shape to the present thesis. The text of Dvisāhasrī (the topic of the present thesis) was out of print and was and later on published in 1999 AD by Avdhuta Sahitya Prakashan Trust, Nareshwar. Shri Kamalbhai Vaidya (Eru, Navasari) who as soon as came to know about my topic of research, presented me the book. I thank him heartily. Yogānanda Sarasvatī’s Śrīgurumurticaritra (original Marathi) translated in Gujarati by late Dr. Arunoday N Jani, The books Origin and Development of Dattātreya Worship in India by Dr. Joshi Hariprasad S, the book Dvisāhasrī gurucaritam translated by Dr Joshi Hariprasad S & Dr. Dave Jayendrabhai. And Śrī Vāsudevananda Sarasvatī viracita Dvisāhasrī (Gurucaritam): Ek Adhyayana by Dr. Shruti Trivedi are available to me on my desk. I am thankful to authority of Smt. Hamsa Mehta Library and Prof. Dr. M. L. Wadekar (Offg. Director of the oriental Institute. MSU.) for providing ample facility to collect accessory data from their library. Place: Vadodara Date: 14/09/2012 Mihirkumar S. Upadhyay Certificate I I hereby solemnly declare that I have myself carried out this research work of the thesis titled “Tembesvāmī’s Dvisāhasrī – A Study”. The thesis contains the original views and the study based on the research methodology. The thesis is the outcome of my original contribution. It bares my own findings and observations. I have consulted the relevant printed books and magazines of this area of research and I have furnished them in the Bibliography. Upadhyay Mihirkumar S. CERTIFICATE II I certify that the present thesis titled “Tembesvāmī’s Dvisāhasrī – A Study” Submitted by Upadhyay Mihirkumar Sudhirbhai To The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara 390002 for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy presents bonafide reports of his own studies and research work carried out by him under my guidance. I forward it for further necessary action. (Prof. Dr. J. A. Jani) Guiding Teacher & Ex-Head, Deptt. of Sanskrit, Pali & Prakrit, Faculty of Arts (MSU) VADODARA 390 002 Preface After my graduation from M.T.B Art’s College, Surat (in 2003) I enroll myself in M.A. (Entire Sanskrit) from June 2003. Since the first day of my commencement in the Department of Sanskrit, Pali & Prakrit, Arts (MSU), we (i.e. the newly enrolled students in the classes of S.Y.B.A. major Sanskrit and M.A. Part I Sanskrit Entire) were invited affectionately through the welcome function. This was a wonderfully exciting experience for all the students, because we are introduced to the scholar teachers of the department and sincere senior students as well. Initially I faced many problems such as the problem of medium of the instruction, staying in hostel, hostel food, etc. But I myself personally forgot almost all the problems after an initial contact with the then head of the department Prof. Dr. Jaydev Arunoday Jani. This was not the experience of my alone. Other teachers of the department were also cordial, sincere and affectionate with all the students. During my studies in M.A., I happened to meet and discuss my academic problems with Prof. Jani which were solved by him in no time. I cultivated the feeling of High respect in him, because he made me overcome the problems of English medium by taking personal care and interest in me. After the completion of my post graduate studies I expressed my deep interest in further studies of Sanskrit language and literature to Prof. Jani. I was interested in the further study in the Area of the Datta cult for the reason that I had my deep interest in Datta studies which was underling in me from my early childhood. The credit goes to my parents Smt. Geetaben and Shri Sudhirbhai Upadhyay. My mother used to read the holy books of Datta cult and my father, being a Brahmin Priest learnt the procedure of the religious practices of the Datta cult under his maternal uncle late Shri Vinodchandra N. Joshi (Kahni, dist. Bardoli) whose teacher was late Shri Shivprashad Joshi (Rajpipala) (traditional scholar of Datta cult). Considering the fact that my interest lies in Datta cult, Prof. Dr. Jani suggested me to conduct my research on the books written in the same tradition. He indicated to read Dvisāhasrī written by H. H. Ṭembesvāmī who is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Dattātreya. He stands next to Ādi Śankarācārya who wrote many treatises and eulogies of various gods and goddesses of different places He visited. Dvisāhasrī falls under the category of a Mahākāvya of the Modern Sanskrit Literature. It comprises of the main topic of 23 chapters preceded by the Gurustuti and appended with two Rahasyas. It narrates the Divine sports of Lord Dattātreya (in chapters 01-04) as well as His two incarnations Viz. Śrīpāda Śrīvallabha (in the chapters 05-07) and Śrī Nrsim˙hasarasvatī (in chapters 08-23). It incorporates the Indian Philosophy esp. the Absolute Monism of Ādi Śan˙karācārya. Well blended with the path of Devotion. H. H. Ṭembesvāmī is famous for his scholarship. The present thesis aims at focusing on the H. H. Ṭembesvāmī’s scholarship, ii diction, devotional love, and His prolific writing arrived at through the research methodology of the textual analysis which is supported with the contents of His auto-commentary (mJeesHe%eìerkeÀe). For the completion of the present thesis I pay obeisance to my guiding teacher Prof. Dr. Jaydev Jani who has been ready to guide me in cracking the hard nuts of the Dvisāhasrī and its auto- commentary. I bow down to madam Mrs. Latika Jaydev Jani whose blessing and support have helped me through cordial welcome and motherly care. I thank my Sanskrit teachers the present head Dr. R. K. Panda, Retd. Prof. Dr. Umaben Deshpande, Retd. Prof. B. P. Pandya, late Prof. Dr. L. M. Joshi, Dr. Smt. Kusumben Mehr and Dr Smt. Sweta Jejurkar for their nature of giving enthusiasm. I thank Dr Mahesh Patel (Assistant Professor in S. P. Uni. V. V. Nagar) who helped me in typing all the Sanskrit text of my thesis. I thank also Dr. Gargi Pandit for her valuable suggestions and other co-student of Prof. Dr. Jani for extending their support and best wishes. I cannot forget Shri Manoj Upadhyay for typing the App. 03 containing the citations of the auto commentary. I bow down to my grandparents Smt. Hemlataben and late Shri Bhagubhai Upadhyay, my parents Smt. Geetaben and Shri Sudhirbhai and my elder brother Shri Nahushbhai and Smt. Parulbhabhi. I remember all the time the sweet inspiring words of my nephews chi. Yayati and chi. Atreya. How can I forget my wife Smt. Payal? I thank her heartily for her continuous inspiration and support to carry out the household matters in my absence or even in my present. iii I thank my friend Mr. Kirti Vithani (Assistant professor, R. K. Shah women’s Arts College, Amaroli - Surat) for valuable suggeions and some of the emendations. I specially thank to Uttambhai Paramar (Secretary, Kim Education Society), Dr. Jagadish Kantharia (Former Principal, Shri P. H. Umarao Arts & Commerce college, Kim - Surat), Smt. Chintanben Bhatt (Principal, Shri P. H. Umarao Arts & Commerce college, Kim - Surat) for not only availing me ample facilities but also for their constant motivation. This proved to be a great help and a praiseworthy support. I do thank the fellow teachers and the staff of Shri P. H. Umarao Arts & Commerce college, Kim. Place: Vadodara Date: 14/09/2012 Mihirkumar S. Upadhyay iv STATEMENT – I HOW THE PRESENT WORK TENDS TO THE GENERAL ADVANCEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE The Vedānta philosophy is not mere a philosophy which reigns over the hearts of the people of the world but it furnishes practiceable lifestyle spent or intensely desired to be spent by numerous people. A person desirous of magnanimous spiritual life indulges himself in to the research in the Vedānta depending on his capacity and interest. There is no other philosophy known to be closer to the spiritualism or humanity than the Vedānta philosophy. Innumerable efforts are made to disclose its secret doctrines. The stalwart Saints of the Sarasvatī Sect of the 10 Monks’ Tradition said to be promulgated by Ādi Śankarācārya is very much known to the followers of the Datta cult of the Devotion and Yoga mixed with the doctrine of the Absolute Monism established by Ādi Śankarācārya. The follower monk of this sect H. H. Tembesvāmī (1854–1914 AD) was a veteran scholar and a writer of a large amount of works in Sanskrit. Among many of his writings, the Dvisāhasrī is the foremost of all. No authentic study or research on the textual analytical aspect of the Dvisāhasrī has been carried out so far, though its translation in Gujarati (not so authentic) is published by Shri Avadhoot Sahitya Prakashan Trust, Nareshwar in VS 2056 (= 1999 AD).