Pandit Todarmal
Encyclopedia
Pandit Todarmal was an eminent India
n scholar on Jainism
and writer in Jaipur
.
Pt. Todarmal had an organized system for preservation and study of Jain texts. About 10 to 12 copyists were engaged to make hand written copies of important texts in different parts of the country. He had made unsuccessful efforts to obtain copies of Dhavala
, Jai Dhavala and other Sidhanta Shastras from Karnataka
. Even at the cost of life of a man who died of rigors of journey these could not be obtained. Many of his associates became good Jain scholars. Thse include Pt. Jaichand Chabra, Pt. Daulatram Kasliwal, Pt. Sewaram and Pt. Devidas Godha.
According to Pt. Bakhtawar Shah, Pt. Todarmal was arrested on false charge of removing an idol and was executed by the order of Jaipur ruler who was under the influence of some staunch anti-Jain individuals in the court, who had become jealous of his influence.
After his death, his son Gumani Ram founded Gumanpanth, a strict sect of Jainism.
He wrote Tikas in Hindi (in Dhundhari dialect) on Sanskrit works
and on Prakrit works
Mokshmarg Prakshak is his best known book. He however could not complete it for some unknown reason. If completed, it would have been a large text of 5000 pages. Even the incomplete work of about 500 pages is extremely popular. It has been published in Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi and Urdu and is found in many of Digamber Jain temples of country.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n scholar on Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
and writer in Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
.
Pt. Todarmal had an organized system for preservation and study of Jain texts. About 10 to 12 copyists were engaged to make hand written copies of important texts in different parts of the country. He had made unsuccessful efforts to obtain copies of Dhavala
Satkhandagama
Satkhandāgama , literally the "Scripture in Six Parts", is the foremost and oldest Digambara Jain sacred text. According to Digambara tradition, the original canonical scriptures of the Jains were totally lost within a few centuries of Nirvana of Lord Mahavira...
, Jai Dhavala and other Sidhanta Shastras from Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. Even at the cost of life of a man who died of rigors of journey these could not be obtained. Many of his associates became good Jain scholars. Thse include Pt. Jaichand Chabra, Pt. Daulatram Kasliwal, Pt. Sewaram and Pt. Devidas Godha.
According to Pt. Bakhtawar Shah, Pt. Todarmal was arrested on false charge of removing an idol and was executed by the order of Jaipur ruler who was under the influence of some staunch anti-Jain individuals in the court, who had become jealous of his influence.
After his death, his son Gumani Ram founded Gumanpanth, a strict sect of Jainism.
Works
His 12 books include 5 original works and seven commentaries (Tikas). His five original boks, combining both prose and poetry are- Rahasyapurna Chitthi,
- Arthasandrishti Adhikar,
- Samava SharanRachna,
- Mokshmarg Prakshak and
- Gommatsar Puja.
He wrote Tikas in Hindi (in Dhundhari dialect) on Sanskrit works
- Atmanushasan,
- Purusharthasidhupaya (which could not be completed)
and on Prakrit works
- Gommatsar Karmakand,
- Labdhisar,
- Chhapansar, and
- Triloksar.
Mokshmarg Prakshak is his best known book. He however could not complete it for some unknown reason. If completed, it would have been a large text of 5000 pages. Even the incomplete work of about 500 pages is extremely popular. It has been published in Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi and Urdu and is found in many of Digamber Jain temples of country.