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INTRODUCTION
the critical edition of all the Jaina Āgamas. Years ago I expressed my wish to edit one Agamasutra and now I am one of the co-editors of the Nandīsūtra, the Anuyogadvārasūtra and the Prajñāpanāsūtra, an assistant in the editing of the Daśavaikălikasūtra, the Avaśyakasūtra and the Bhagavatīsūtra, and the editor of the Uttarādhyayanasūtra. I consider myself to be the most fortunate person in this regard. Words fail to express my indebtedness to my guru Agamaprabhākara Muni Śrī Punyavijayaji.
After the death of Muni Sri Punyavijayaji, Rev. Muni Sri Jambuvijayaji, a great learned scholar, who can be well regarded as a symbol of fortune of the Jaina Order, has shouldered and continued the Agama publication work. This is our good luck. Whenever I approached him with doubts and questions pertaining to my editing work, he explained them to my full satisfaction. I respectfully record my gratefulness to this great Muni.
I am grateful to Rev. Acārya Suryodayasuriji for giving me a palm-leaf ms. belonging to his own Collection for the purpose of utilising it in the preparation of this critical edition. I acknowledge my indebtedness to the members of the managing boards of the Jñanabhandāras from which Agamaprabhākara Muni Sri Punyavijayaji obtained mss. for preparing a copy of the Bhagavatīsūtra, recording variants, etc.
Pt. Shri Dalsukhbhai Malvania, an internationally known scholar of Indian Philosophy and Jaina Agamas, (Former-Director and now Adviser of the L.D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad) has read, through sheer devotion to Scriptures,'the final proofs and suggested corrections at places. At times I have sought his guidance in selecting readings. For all this help I am extremely grateful to him.
I am thankful to Dr. Nagin J. Shah, Director of the L.D. Institute of Indology, wha translated my Gujarati Introduction (= Prastāvanā) into English and allowed me to utilise the mss. preserved in his Institute.
My thanks are also due to Shri Ratilal Dipchand Desai who, in the latter part of his life, is engaged in writing on various problems which the Jaina community is facing, for carefully reading this introduction and making suggestions.
My sincere thanks are due to ex-Honorary Secretaries Shri Jayantilal Ratanchand Shah, Shri Balchand Gandalal Doshi and Shri Ratilal Chimanlal Kothari-as also to the present Hon. Secretaries Shri Ratilal Chimanlal Kothari, Shri Sevantilal Keshavlal Shah and Shri Jagjivanbhai Popatlal Shah-for their sincere efforts in accelerating the publication work. Their devotion to the Scriptures is exemplary.
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