A History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas c2: Preface

A History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas c2

Language: English

Preface

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It was about a decade and a half ago that an idea struck me that I should write a comprehensive history of the canonical literature of the *Jainas*. This idea got crystallized when, on being invited by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, I commenced preparing a *Descriptive Catalogue of Jaina Manuscripts* deposited in this Institute by the Government of Bombay. While I was engaged in this work, I found that barring *A Sacred Literature of the Jainas*, an English translation of the valuable German contribution by the late Prof. A Weber, and *A History of Indian Literature* (vol. II) by Prof. Maurice Winternitz, Ph. D., there was no work which presented the history of the *Jaina* literature as a connected whole. And as regards these two works, too, I found that the first one was hardly accessible, and that *full justice* was not done to the history of the *Jaina* canonical literature by either of these scholars, who had treated the extant exegetical literature in a cursory manner and had practically neglected the extinct *Āgamas*. Prof. Winternitz was in a better position to do the needful; but, since he had selected a much wider field than the history of the *Jaina* literature, he could not devote to it as many pages as might be desired. So I undertook this work, and by the time two parts of vol. XVII of *D. C. J. M.* got published, I finished the spade-work. Subsequently I found that the task undertaken by me presented far greater difficulties than I had foreseen. So I had half a mind to wait till I had completely surmounted them. But, on realising that such a desirable stage may not be reached in near future and even the work as it stood, would be useful to students, if not to scholars, I have taken this bold step of placing it before the public.

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Incidentally I may invite the attention of veteran scholars to certain questions which require investigation. For instance they occur on pp. 37, 40, 71, 78, 116, 117 etc.

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In this work I have given quotations *in extenso* in order that the general reader may be saved the trouble of procuring the original works, and may still judge for himself. I have given at the end two Indexes. Of these the first deals mainly with the names of authors and other personages and sects and tribes and the like. It has been compiled and arranged according to the *English* alphabet by my eldest son Vipinacandra B. A. (Hons.).¹ The second is more extensive. It includes the names of works, their sections etc., arranged according to the *Nāgarī* alphabet by my daughter Manoramā, and it is checked by my younger son Vibodhacandra. For the purposes of Indexes only the modern transliteration-system has been adopted. Accordingly Gaina is given under "Jaina" and so on.

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¹ He has recently passed this examination with *Samskṛta* (entire) and has secured the first class.

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Considering the various topics dealt with in this book I have thought it desirable to give "Analysis". The portions pertaining to the main body of the work are printed in bigger types as compared with those used for the portions incorporated in foot-notes. Further, I have used abbreviations at times, e.g., D. C. J. M. for 'Descriptive Catalogue of Jaina Manuscripts', Visesā° for 'Visesāvassayabhāsa', Av. Lit. for 'Übersicht über die Āvasyaka-Literatur', com. for 'commentary', p. for 'page' etc.

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I record my sense of gratitude to all those authors whose works I could consult and derive benefit from, and especially to the late Prof. Winternitz who used to take keen interest in my literary activities. Further, I thank Mr. N. I. Desai B. A., the Printer for the care and enthusiasm with which he has printed this work.

A History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas c2: Preface

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