भूमिका

Summary

This work is a significant composition among Apabhramsha lyrical poems, with a mystical core exploring the distinction and mystery between the soul and the supreme being. It discusses the negation of external rituals, purification of mind and emotion, the importance of the guru, and the description of spontaneous meditation and stabilizing one's focus in the soul's nature. The author uses simple, direct language without technical terminology to guide religious and spiritual practice, making it universally inspiring for self-welfare, free from sectarian bias. The composition is titled "Ananda," indicating it is a source of bliss, and its content is spiritual. The tradition of mystical poetry, from the first-century Acharya Kundakundadev through sixth-century figures like Yogindradev and Devasena to tenth-century Muni Ramsingh's "Pahud Doha," continued to the author's time, who describes the yogi's soul-sadhana within this tradition. Despite its brevity, the work is substantial. The use of Jain terms like bandh, kammu, kevalgyan, munivar, nirvan, and kammapadal reveals the poet's Jain affiliation and deep study of Jain philosophy, though his life details are unknown. The language, close to Khari Boli and likely composed after Acharya Hemchandra's era, suggests the author was from western Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, or Haryana. The composition period is estimated as the latter half of the 13th century, though scholars have proposed the 12th or 13th century. The work's simplicity, lyrical quality, folk-language basis, word choice, and clarity are notable, with both poetic elegance and depth of meaning. The poet describes the abode of great bliss leading to nirvana with poignant expression. The composition's lower limit is the 12th century and upper limit the 15th century, with clear influence from the 10th-century "Pahud Doha." A manuscript from Vikram Samvat 1539 confirms it was written earlier. The work is titled "Anand