કવિ રામચન્દ્ર અને કવિ સાગરચન્દ્ર

Summary

In this literary study, Madhusudan Gandhi profiles two medieval Gujarati poets—Kavi Ramyatra and Kavi Sagaratr—and analyses their contributions to Jain literature. Drawing on manuscripts, genealogical records and monastic chronicles, he reconstructs their biographies and situates them within specific Jain monastic lineages. A genealogical diagram shows their place in the chain of teachers and disciples. Gandhi then examines their compositions. Ramyatra wrote narrative poems and devotional hymns that blend doctrinal exposition with storytelling; Sagaratr composed a long poem extolling the virtues of monastic life. The author highlights thematic differences—Ramyatra’s style is ornate and narrative‑driven, while Sagaratr favours concise didacticism. He also analyses their metre and imagery and compares their vocabulary to other works of the period. Gandhi situates both poets in a historical context: they flourished when Jain monks encouraged vernacular literature to educate lay audiences. The essay examines patronage patterns, noting that merchant families supported the poets and that their works circulated widely. Manuscript evidence and cross‑references to inscriptions allow Gandhi to propose dates: Ramyatra likely lived in the fourteenth century and Sagaratr in the fifteenth. The article concludes with an exhaustive bibliography of the sources consulted, including catalogues and unpublished manuscripts. By assembling biographical details and analysing the poets’ works, the study sheds light on the evolution of early Gujarati Jain literature and the collaboration between monks and lay patrons.