The Doctrine of the Jainas, Described after the Old Sources c5.54

c5.54

§ 8. Thus far we have registered western working for the public knowledge of Mahāvīra's religion. As to the countless pamphlets and journals through which the Jains themselves, for the purpose of propaganda, appeal to the general public, we but mention them here in passing. Of the publications useful for scholars we refer to VIJAYADHARMA Sūri's (s.b.) Jainatattvajñāna (in Festschrift Winternitz), JAINI's "Outlines of Jainism", P. C. Nahar's "Epitome of Jainism" and Ch. R. JAIN's "Jaina Law." Research further receives great help by compilations as are catalogues of private libraries, collections of Paṭṭāvalis and of Praśastis, biographies, etc. They all, however, are overshadowed by the "Abhidhānarājendra", a Sanskrit encyclopedia in 7 volumes, whose Prakrit catchwords are taken from the canonical and scholastical literature of the Śvetāmbaras, a monumental work by VIJAYARĀJENDRA Sūri (1827-1907, Ratlam 1913-25). A glossary of the Canon in three languages is the Illustrated Ardha-Magadhi Dictionary of Muni RATNACANDRA in 5 volumes (Indaur 1923-32). Prakrits of all kind including that of the Jains have flown together to mix in the ocean called "Pāia-Sadda-Mahaṇṇavo, a complete Prakrit-Hindi Dictionary" (1928) by Pandit Hargovind Das SHETH. Precise data of places as well as large supplements will increase the value of that great work. Among the periodicals we should like to mention the Anekānt, Jain Antiquary, Jain Hitaisī where literature and history are being discussed by Jain authors, many of whom, of course, have contributed also to non-Jinist journals. Nearest related to the periodicals are the series (grantha-mālā). In many cases they represent a very remarkable file including rare and significant works provided with a scholarly introduction. It is a pity that many Grantha-mālās should have become known in the West only in fragments, if at all. The Śvetāmbaras can be proud of the volumes, apart from the Siddhānta, published by the Āgamodaya-Samiti, by the Devcand Lālbhāi-J.-Pustakoddhāra, the Ātmānanda-Grantharatnamālā (Bhn, 1911 ff.), the Yaśovijaya-J.-Gr., started in 1904 and apparently the oldest Jain series, and many more literary undertakings which cannot be enumerated here. Our thanks are equally due to the Digambaras. A parallel to the Siddhānta are the classical Digambara authors. They have been printed and translated in the Sacred Books of the Jains (Arrah 1917 ff.; Sanātana-J. Gr.-M. (Ben. 1917 ff.); Śrī Rāyacandra-J. Śāstra-M. (Bo. 1916 ff.) Māṇikcand-J.-Gr.-M.(Bo. 1915 ff.). The most recent series is the Jñānapīṭha-Mūrtidevī-J.-Gr.-M. (Banaras 1918 ff.), a younger counterpart to the Singhi J.-Gr.-M. (Bo. 1933 ff.) of the Śvetāmbaras, edited by Muni JINAVIJAYA.