Prakrit Proper Names (Agamic Index I) v1.c2: Preface
Prakrit Proper Names (Āgamic Index I) v1.c2
- Language
- English
Preface
v1.c2.1
We have *Vedic Index* and *Dictionary of Pali Proper Names* prepared by eminent scholars. But such an index or a dictionary of Prakrit names was a desideratum¹. The task of preparing *Vedic Index* or *Pali* dictionary was somewhat easy. It was so because most of the concerned *Vedic* and *Pali* works were published with indices. But different is the case with the Prakrit canonical works of the Jainas. All the published works (barring some few exceptions like the four works published in the West and *Bhratkalpabhasya* edited in five volumes by Rev. Muni Shri Punyavijayaji) contain no index whatsoever.
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¹ Of course there exists one noteworthy work in Gujarati Language *Jaina Agamasahityamam Gujarat* by Dr. B. J. Sandesara (Pub. Gujarat Vidyasabha) the scope of which is limited.
v1.c2.3
So we are extremely happy in placing before the scholars the first part of the *Dictionary of Prakrit Proper Names*. This is not a work of a single person but it is a co-operative work done by a team of scholars. I must thank all the scholars who co-operated in this common task.
v1.c2.4
The dictionary as a whole contains about 8,000 proper names collected from the canonical texts of the Śvetambara Jainas. The names are collected not only from the original canonical texts but also from their printed Prakrit commentaries viz. Niryuktis, Bhasyas and Curnis. But as the title of the present work suggests we have not selected the proper names from the Sanskrit commentaries on those original canonical texts. Of course, they have been utilised for supplementing the informations gathered under each item from Prakrit original canonical texts and Prakrit commentaries thereon.
v1.c2.5
The work was begun in 1959 by Dr. Hariprasad Shastri, Dr. J. S. Jetly and Shri K. K. Shastri by preparing reference cards from some of the texts with their commentaries. This task was finished by me when unfortunately they left the institute. When all the reference cards were ready the work of compilation was entrusted to Dr. Mohanlal Mehta under my supervision and guidance in the year 1961. Later in the year 1962 he was assisted by D. K. R. Chandra in finalising the compilation. These two scholars were again assisted by Pt. Rupendra Kumar Pagariya in finding out the references mentioned in the reference cards. Dr. Mehta left us in 1964. The revision was completed in the year 1967 The book went to press in 1968 when I was in Toronto When Dr Chandra left the Institute in 1969 the task of getting the book printed fell solely upon Dr N J Shah
v1.c2.6
Like Dictionary of Pali Proper Names this dictionary too includes some names which are not proper names e g Titthamkara Cakkavatti etc It is hoped that they will be useful to the scholars
v1.c2.7
While preparing this dictionary generally the compilers have not utilised the data available in other sources They have collected data only from the Jaina canonical texts and their Prakrit and Sanskrit commentaries Only with regards to geographical names they have utilised the other sources In spite of this I hope that the scholars will be benefitted by this dictionary because this is for the first time that the data from the Jaina canonical literature is collected and arranged
v1.c2.8
The printing of the work follows the pattern set out in the Dictionary of Pali Proper Names Information of a particular name will not be complete unless the names printed in bold types are also consulted The bold types are used to indicate that a name printed in those types is separately dealt with at its proper place The Sanskrit and Prakrit terms used in description are in italic types
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The numbers given in brackets after the name printed in bold types indicate that the relevent name with that number is dealt with at its proper place
v1.c2.10
I heartily thank Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai the Chairman of the Institute for allowing us to undertake such an exorbitantly expensive project Moreover I thank the ministry of Education and Youth Service Govt of India for sanctioning the publication Grant of Rs 12 000/
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L D Institute of Indology Ahmedabad 9 20 6 1970
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Dalsukh Malvania Director