# Raidhu
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{{short description|Indian author}}
thumb|The Adinatha statue at the Gwalior fort was consecrated by Raidhu
'''Raidhu''' ([IAST](/source/IAST): Raidhū; 1393–1489) was an [Apabhramsha](/source/Apabhramsha) poet from [Gwalior](/source/Gwalior), and an important figure in the [Digambara](/source/Digambara) [Jain](/source/Jain) community. He supervised the [pratishtha](/source/Panch_Kalyanaka_Pratishtha_Mahotsava) consecration ceremony of many—perhaps most—of the [Jain](/source/Jain) idols carved on the hill side in the [Gwalior Fort](/source/Gwalior_Fort) during the rule of [Tomara](/source/Tomaras_of_Gwalior) rulers Dungarasimha and Kirtisimha.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=31}}
== Biography ==
Raidhu was born in the Padmavati Purval Jain community,[Padmavati Purval Digambar Jain Jati ka Udbhav aur Vikas, Ramjit Jain, Pragatishil Padmavati Purval Digambar Jain Sangathan Panjikrut, 2005, p. 77-79] as he himself acknowledged. His birthplace is uncertain, but he appears to have spent most of his life in or around Gwalior.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=32}} He was a lay disciple of the Jain leader Bramha Shripal, who was a disciple of [Bhattaraka](/source/Bhattaraka) Yashahkiriti of [Kashtha Sangha](/source/Kashtha_Sangha).
Raidhu was an important figure in the Gwalior court, where he stayed at the invitation of the Tomara king Dungarasimha.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=34}} He was also a close associate of the Digambara ascetics ([Bhattaraka](/source/Bhattaraka)s) who were influential in the Tomara court.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=32}} Besides, Raidhu was patronized by several wealthy Jain merchants. Raidhu played a central role in connecting these different groups together: he authored religious books for the wealthy merchants, and encouraged them to donate money towards religious causes.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=34}}
Raidhu's powerful and wealthy sponsors helped disseminate his literary works, some of which are lavishly illustrated (e.g. ''Jasodharacariu'').{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=34}} These patrons included Kamalasimha, Yashahkirti, Khelha Brahmachari, Sanghadhipati Nemadasa and Asapati. Kamalasimha started the development of Gwalior as a Jain holy place, with support from the Tomara rulers Dungarasimha and Kirtisimha. The Digambara monk Yashahkirti and Khelha Brahmachari encouraged Raidhu to write ''Sammaijiṇacariu'', a biography of [Mahavira](/source/Mahavira). Khelha also commissioned the colossal image of Chandraprabha. Sanghadhipati Nemadasa was a patron of Raidhu's poem ''Puṇṇāsavakahākosa'', and also built a Jain shrine on his recommendation. Asapati was a minister of the Tomara king Dungarasimha.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=33}}
== Jain images ==
Raidhu was also responsible for consecrating many of the Jain rock carvings inside the fort, as attested by multiple inscriptions.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=31}} These include the two colossal images of [Adinatha](/source/Rishabhanatha) (57 feet) and [Chandraprabha](/source/Chandraprabha).{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=32}} Medieval Jain texts state that certain sacred mountains covered with images of [Jinas](/source/Arihant_(Jainism)) would survive the destruction of the world. Raidhu's poems often mention the [end times](/source/Eschatology), and several near-contemporary poets also allude to the end times amid the [Muslim conquests](/source/Muslim_conquests_of_the_Indian_subcontinent). Therefore, it appears that the colossal Jain images were intended to ensure the survival of Gopalagiri (the Gwalior fort hill) in the end times.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=31, 41-44}}
== Literary works ==
{{quotebox|width=250px
|quote=सं १५१० वर्षे माघ सुदी ८ सोमे गोपाचल दुर्गे तोमर वंशान्वये राजा श्री डूंगरेन्द्र देव राज्य पवित्रमाने श्री [काष्ठासंघ](/source/Kashtha_Sangh) माथुरान्वये भट्टारक श्री गुणकीर्ति देवास्तत्पट्टे श्री मलयकीर्ति देवास्ततो भट्टारक गुणभद्रदेव पंडितवर्य रइघू तदाम्नाये [अग्रोतवंशे](/source/Agrawal) वासिलगोत्रे सकेलहा भार्या निवारी तयोः पुत्र विजयष्ट शाह ... साधु श्री माल्हा पुत्र संघातिपति देउताय पुत्र संघातिपति करमसीह श्री चन्द्रप्रभु जिनबिंब महाकाय प्रतिष्ठापित प्रणमति ..शुभम् भवतु ..
|source = A [Gwalior Fort](/source/Gwalior_Fort) [Inscription](/source/Inscription) 1453 CE[[http://hindi.webdunia.com/religion/religion/jainism/0708/11/1070811047_1.htm Gopachal ke Jinamandir]]
}}
Raidhu composed several poems in [Apabhramsha](/source/Apabhramsha), many of which have survived. He composed many of these poems while living in the Jain temples of Gopalagiri.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=32}} [Rajaram Jain](/source/Rajaram_Jain) translated Raidhu's poems into [Hindi](/source/Hindi) language.{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=32}}
Raidhu's known works include:[Jain Dharma Ka Prachin Itishas, Paramanand Shastri, Gajendra Publication, 1975]
* ''Anathmi Kaha''
* ''Appa Samboha Kavva'' ("Addressing myself")
* ''Balahadda Chariu'', written at the request of [Agrawal](/source/Agrawal) Sahu Harsi.
* ''Bhadrabāhucariu''
** An account of Bhadrabahu{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=41}}
* ''Dashalakshana Jayamala''
* ''Dhanakumar Chariu''
* ''Jasodhara-Chariu''{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=34}}
* ''Jivandhar Chariu''
* ''Mesehar Chariu''
* ''Puṇṇāsavakahākosa'' (''Punnasava-kahakosa'')
** Composed at the request of Sanghadhipati Nemadasa{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=33}}
* ''Ritthanemi Chariu''
* ''Sammaijiṇacariu'' or ''Sammai Jinachariu''
** A biography of [Mahavira](/source/Mahavira), written on the request of Khelha Brahmachari,{{sfn|Phyllis Granoff|2006|p=33}} the son of Agrawal Sahu Tosau of Hisar. The book also gives a history of the family of Sahu Tosau since the time of [Feroze Shah](/source/Feroze_Shah).
* ''Sammat Gunanihana''
** written on the request of Goel [Agrawal](/source/Agrawal) Kamal Singh in sam 1492.
* ''Savaya Chariu''
** Written at the request of [Golalare](/source/Golalare) [Sandhadhip](/source/Singhai) Kusharaj
* ''Shodhashakarana Jayamala''
* ''Siddhantartha Sar''
* ''Siripal Chariu''
* ''Sukaushal Chariu''
* ''Vrattasar''
Some of his texts are still being discovered in Jain libraries. A Raidhu Award, named after him, of Rs. 21,000 is given every year by the Shyamlal Shastri Trust in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh.
==See also==
*[Jain literature](/source/Jain_literature)
*[History of the Hindi language](/source/History_of_the_Hindi_language)
== References ==
{{reflist}}
=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal |author=Phyllis Granoff |author-link=Phyllis Granoff |title=Mountains of Eternity: Raidhū and the Colossal Jinas of Gwalior |journal=Rivista di Studi Sudasiatici |volume=1 |year=2006 |publisher=Firenze University Press |url=http://fupress.net/index.php/rss/article/viewFile/2455/2290 |doi=10.13128/RISS-2455 |pages=31–50 |access-date=2017-08-24 |archive-date=2014-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422145713/http://www.fupress.net/index.php/rss/article/viewFile/2455/2290 |url-status=dead }}
{{refend}}
{{Jainism topics}}
Prof. [Rajaram Jain](/source/Rajaram_Jain)[{{Cite web|url=http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=72992|title = 26.06.2010 ►Prakrit Jnanabharati International Award ►Meeting at Shravanabelagola @ HereNow4U}}]
{{authority control}}
Category:14th-century Indian poets
Category:Indian Jain poets
Category:14th-century Indian Jains
Category:15th-century Indian Jains
Category:15th-century Indian poets
Category:Poets from Madhya Pradesh
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Raidhu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raidhu) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raidhu?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.