vivahavallabhamahakavya [ lost jain sanskirt poem]

Summary

Vivāhavallabhamahākāvya (VM) is a now-lost Jain Sanskrit epic known only from its 17th canto, preserved in a damaged 18th-century manuscript found in Bikaner. The poem narrates the life of Tīrthaṅkara Neminātha, with a special focus on his betrothal to Rājīmatī. The extant canto captures Rājīmatī’s philosophical response to Nemi’s renunciation of worldly life upon witnessing the cruelty of animal slaughter. Instead of despair, she embraces spirituality, seeking self-realization. The canto emphasizes Jain ideals like detachment, inner awakening, and liberation. The poetic style features intricate meters (predominantly anuṣṭubh) and figures of speech such as yamaka, upamā, and virodha. Though the full poem is lost, internal evidence suggests it had around twenty cantos. The preserved section demonstrates the poet’s literary skill and philosophical depth, making the poem a significant but regrettably incomplete contribution to Jain literary heritage.