Siribhoovalaya

Siribhoovalaya
Information
Religion	Jainism
Author	Kumudendu Muni
Language	Kannada, Sanskrit, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Prakrit, etc.
Period	9th century AD
Chapters	26
Verses	600,000

The Siribhoovalaya (Kannada: ಸಿರಿಭೂವಲಯ) is a unique work of multi-lingual literature written by Kumudendu Muni, a Jain monk. The work is unique in that it employs not alphabets, but is composed entirely in Kannada numerals. The Saangathya metre of Kannada poetry is employed in the work. It uses numerals 1 through 64 and employs various patterns or bandhas in a frame of 729 (27×27) squares to represent alphabets in nearly 18 scripts and over 700 languages. Some of the patterns used include the Chakrabandha, Hamsabandha, Varapadmabandha, Sagarabandha, Sarasabandha, Kruanchabandha, Mayurabandha, Ramapadabandha, Nakhabandha, etc. As each of these patterns are identified and decoded, the contents can be read.

The work is said to have around 600,000 verses, nearly 6 times as big as the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. Totally there are 26 chapters constituting it a big volume of which only three have been decoded.The author expounds that many philosophies which existed in the Jain classics are eloquently and skillfully interpreted in the work. It is also claimed to consist of works in several languages including Sanskrit, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Prakrit, etc., apart from Kannada. Different languages can be realised by assigning different alphabets to different numbers. All the major works in Sanskrit like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, the Vedas and the Upanishads are said to be present in the text and can be unravelled with further deciphering of the code.

It is also believed to contain valuable information about various sciences including mathematics, chemistry, physics, astronomy, medicine, history, space travel, etc. Karlamangalam Srikantaiah, the editor of the first edition, has claimed that the work contains instructions for travel in water and space travel. It is also said that the work contains information about the production of modern weapons.

Though written in Kannada its numerical enunciation enables the people of other languages to comprehend it in a lucid manner. It is said that all arts, literature are entwined in a total of 718 languages enmeshed in a mathematical and scientific canvas thus regarding the work as highly magnificent and amazing.

History

The Jains hold the 24 *Thirthankaras in high esteem and reverence. Rushabha Deva was the first Thirthankara among them. After ruling the entire world for a long time, he became averse to worldly attachments. Before proceeding to the forest for penance Vanaprasta, he equally divided his worldly assets to his four children.

His eldest son Bharath begot the entire kingdom; his second son, Bahubali got Poudanapura; his sister Brahmi got the 64 alphabets of Kannada language beginning with ‘C’; the youngest daughter, Sundari gets the numbers from 1 to 9 along with 0. The Kannada numbers are its letters; its letters are numbers. This is the essence of the supreme knowledge [Kevala Jnana – Knowledge of Emancipation or Liberation] attained by Adi Thirthankara Rushabha Deva. This is the main thrust of this work. These letters and numbers are similar to each other and with the help of this, it is possible to know the entire knowledge pertaining to the world and thereby attain salvation in life. Rushabhadeva taught this secret to his junior daughter, Sundari.

This cosmic knowledge or wisdom flowed from the Gods to Rushabha Deva who in turn passed it on to Gommata Deva (known as Adimanmatha), who neatly incorporated them in the coded numerical form. He later preached it to his elder brother Bharatha. Through Ganadhara, this divine knowledge was passed on to the next Thirthankara Ajitha. Like this it flowed to the next 21 Thirthankaras in the form of preaching (Upadesha) from one to another.

The Jain ancient literature mentions that the period between some of these Thirthankaraas was over three thousand years. The living span of the ancient Thirthankaraas itself was more than lakhs of years.

Nemi was the 22nd Thirthankara. This cosmic knowledge bestowed from the heaven was taught to Sri Krishna of Dwaraka by Nemi. This was presented by Sage Vyasa (Vyasa Maharshi) in the form of Bhagavad Geeta containing 163 Cantos (Slokas) titled Jayakhyana. Sri Krishna preached this to Arjuna, who was about to retreat from the war field (1954 BC).

The Siddhartha of Kapilavastu was the disciple of Parshwanatha, the 23rd Thirthankara. He later became Buddha and founded Buddhism (450 BC?). Mahaveera, the 24th Thirthankara (201 BC?) passed on this cosmic wisdom to Ganadhara Gouthama. Gouthama incorporated this in his work known as “Purve Kavya” (the ancient Kavya). This was also known as “Mangalaprabruta” and “Karana Sutra”.

In 130 BC Gouthama preached this wealth of divine knowledge to a king known as Shrenika. After the descendancy of ten Saints (Gurus), in 50 BC one Prabhavasena wrote “Mangala Pahuda” with focus on Kannada, Sanskrit and Prakruth languanges.

The same descendancy of Saints continued. And in 400 AD, Bhuthabali presented this divine knowledge in a work titled ‘Bhuvalaya’. In the continued tradition, Veerasenacharya wrote a commentary on this divine knowledge (which was in the form of Shatkhandaagama)

These later became popular as “Dhavala”. Jinasena, disciple of Veerasena, compiled the ancient Maha Purana. Around 800 AD (i.e., exactly one thousand one and half year after the attainment of salvation of Mahaveera, the 24th Thirthankara) Kumadendumuni wrote this “Sarvabhashaamayee bhashaa Siribhuvalaya”. This divine knowledge was earlier in two forms known as: Nootana – Prakthana. Kumudendumuni wrote this Kannada numeric poetry on the palm leaves. He has codified this in the form of Kannada numerics in 9 number combinations and presented it as a Kannada Numeric Poetry (composition in verse). Thus an unprecedented great piece of poetry in Kannada numerics came to the world.

Later Kumudendu Muni preached this to Gangarasa Saigotta Sivamara (780-812 AC) and then to Amoghavarsha, Emperor of Rashtrakoota, Nrupathunga (814-880 AC). Mallikabbe, wife of one Sena who was the Commander of the army, copied this work on a buff paper and presented to her Guru (preacher) Maghanandi (Maghananandi). One such copy has come down from generation to generation and has been preserved in the family of Shatavadhani Dharanendra Pandit, a famous Ayurvedic Doctor in Doddabele Village alongside the railway track of Bangalore-Tumkur. It is a historical fact that he used to read this in the numeric language and his friend Chanda Pandit used to give commentaries.

Around 1913 AD Dharanendra Pandit passed away. Later this extra-ordinary ancient numeric-poetry came to the possession of one Sri Yallappa Shastry, who was an Ayurvedic medicine sales representative. He preserved it in his private library. But coming across this heap of numeric-poetry (codified language; very hard to decifer), Pandit Yallappa Shastry was, in fact, disillusioned!

One Karlamangalamam Srikantaih, was a great follower of Gandhi. Influenced by the struggle for freedom movement, he settled down in Bangalore around 1927. He later became a scholar in many languages. He came across this great ancient work and firmly resolved to decifer it.

By his continued efforts, he was able to match each alphabet with the numbers found in the Siribhuvalaya text. By this method, he succeeded in sorting out this Kannada numeric poetry in the form of simple and Kannada language having a cogent and meaningful literature. This was publicized at the State, national and international levels also.

With the sincere and foresighted efforts of Maharshi Devaratha of Gokarna (a close associate of Dr.Rajendra Prasad,) and the intervention of the then President of India, late Dr.Rajendra Prasad, this rare work of literature was preserved in the Government of India Archives Department in Micro-film format. The first part of this was printed in Kannada language through the Sarvarthasiddhi Sangha, Bangalore and released at the Kannada Sahitya Parishat in 1953 in the form of a book. It carried the name Ellappa Shastry as ‘Researcher’ and Karlamangalam Srikantaiah as ‘Editor’. Its second part was published in 1955. These notable developments pertaining to Siribhuvalaya have unfortunately not been properly appreciated in the Kannada literary field till now; in fact, it is a case of gross negligence!

Dr.S.Srikantha Shastry, famous Professor of Indian History, has lauded Karlamangalam Srikantaia’s unmatched brilliance in no uncertain terms. Ms.Elizebeth Berner of Hungary, Mr.Pharal of USA, Mr.Sirigetanaph of Japan and other foreign scholars have described this ancient Kannada poetry in numerics: Sarvabhaashaamayeebhaashaa Siribhuvalaya – as the ‘Tenth Wonder of the World’

Etymology

It is a universal fact that Adi Shankaracharya was a most prominent person to propagate the theory of ‘Advaita’. A few years later, it was Kumudendu Muni who equally advocated and propagated the theory of ‘Advaita’. But yet he remains a stranger to the world even now! Both Shankaracharya and Kumudendu Muni had their own unique and typical ways of spreading this universal truth. Kumudendu Muni was popularly known as “Yalavabhurisi” and by his unmatched brilliance wrote this second-to-none “Siribhuvalaya”

Author

The work is attributed to Jain monk Kumudendu Muni. He claims that he was guru of amoghavarsha of Manyakheta and a disciple of virasena and jinasena of Dhavala. However, not much is known about this monk. Scholars are divided about when he lived. Karlamangalam Srikantaiah, the editor of the first edition, claims that the work may have been composed around 800 AD. Dr Venkatachala Sastry, however, dates him and his work to the 15th century. He also claims that Kumudendu Muni belonged to a village called Yalavalli near Nandidurga in Chikkaballapura Taluk in Kolar district. He further dates the work to around the 1550-1600 period and suggests it might be even more recent.

Publication

The work was first partially published in 1953 by the Yugantara press in Bengaluru. It was authored and edited by Yellappa Shastry (an Ayurvedic pandit), researched by Karlamangalam Srikantiah (a freedom fighter) and typed by Anantha Subbarao (who invented the Kannada typewriter). It was released under the aegis of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Bengaluru.

The second repeated edition of the book was released on March 9, 2003, by Pustaka Shakti publications in the presence of the Governor of Karnataka, Mr T N Chaturvedi, and other eminent personalities like Dr S S Marulayya, writer Vyasaraya Ballal and Prof S K Ramachandra Rao. It has been edited by T. V. Venkatachala Sastry and Dharmapal, the son of Yellappa Shastri.

Based on the historical events over the past 60 years as also the information obtained from the study of this work, Sudharthi of Hassan prepared and published an introductory book on this subject under the title: SIRIBHUVALAYASAARA in 2010. It contains details of the work that has gone underway over the past 60 years on this ancient literature. It also discusses in detail about things that should have been done and the steps to be taken now to unearth this wealth of knowledge. The Kannada poems in Kannada meter contained in Siribhuvalaya have been edited and published in the modern Kannada language.

For those who find it difficult to understand this work, another book in simple Kannada prose style titled 'Siribhuvalayada Ondu Minchunota' (a quick overview of Siribhuvalaya), a poem book 'Siribhuvalayada Saangatya Padyagala Sangraha' and also 'Siribhuvalayada Jayaakhyaanaantargata Bhagavadgeeta' have been authored by Sudharthi from Hassan.

A Hindi version of Siribhuvalayasaara book entitled 'Siribhuvalaya ki Ek Jhanki' translated by S. Ramanna has also been authored by Sudharthi from Hassan. Another book, titled: Siribhuvalayada Olanota gives a brief and simple introduction to this great work has also been written and authored by Sudharthi of Hassan.

Siribhuvalaya Khanda-1, Adhyaaya 34-50 and its Antar Saahitya has been published under the name 'Siribhuvalaya Saagara Ratana Manjusha'. Adhyaaya 50-59 and their simple introduction has been narrated in a book named 'Siribhuvalaya Saagara Ratna Manjusha - 2' authored by Sudharty from Hassan.

'The Tenth Wonder of the World' is an English version of Sudharthy's Siribhuvalaya Sagara Ratnamanjusha was translated by Mr. Kavi Suresh and was published in 2014.

Siribhuvalaya Sudharthy has compiled the happenings from 55 years from 1953 and published around 5000-6000 pages of literature related to Siribhuvalaya by eminent effort for 30 years. Latest book is 'Jagattina Hattane Acchari' is summary of all these books in 600 pages. A small introductory book titled 'Siribhuvalaya Sankshipta Parichaya' was prepared by Sudharty from Hassan for students and common public. Both books were released by Dr. Veerendra Hegade in 2015 during Mahamastakabhisheka happened in Karkala.

Reactions

Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, called it one of the 'wonders of the world'. Giants of Kannada literature like Kuvempu, DVG, Pu Ti Na, Masti Venkatesha Iyengar and Dr S. Srikanta Sastri, among others, evinced keen interest in the book when it was first released. Prof Suniti Kumar Chatterji is said to have exclaimed that the work deserved a doctorate by several universities.

Dr S. Srikanta Sastri, a highly respected name in the study of Indian history and culture, has commented on the work thus,

This work is of great importance in the study of Kannada language and Literature and the literatures of Sanskrit, Prakritha, Tamil and Telugu. It throws light on the history of India and the history of Karnataka. This is an important source for the study of Indian Mathematics. It is helpful in the study of the development of Physics, Chemistry and the Life Sciences in India. It helps in the study of sculpture and iconography. If the versions of the Ramayana, the Mahabharatha, the Bhagavadgita, the Rig Veda and other ancient texts can be decoded, a comparison of those versions with the present day versions would be rewarding. Some Jain works which have been lost may be recovered from this work.

There are 16,000 chakras in all. Out of which only 1,270 chakras are available. There are 9 khanda's in all. The available 1270 chakra"s belong to Prathama khanda (I)called Mangala Prabhruta. (This is only a syllabus of the Siri Bhoovalaya which contains 59 chapters). Remaining 8 Khanda's work not available. The number of letters (in the form numerals) used are 14 lakhs. It has been claimed that it is possible to decipher 6 lakh Shlokas or verses.

Since no contemporary pandit is conversant with the esoteric metres employed in the work, the work of deciphering is being done with the help of computers. The whereabouts of remaining chakra's (16,000 - 1,270) = 14,730 are not known. Yet to be traced.

External links

• “सिरि भूवलय” : वेब-साईट परियोजना
• Introduction to Siri Bhoovalaya
• A project attempting to demonstrate Siri Bhoovalaya technique
• [1]