Mahabandho Part 1

SR No.: 001388
Original Sutra Author: Bhutbali
Author: Sumeruchand Diwakar Shastri
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 520
Language: Hindi, Prakrit
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Karma
File Size: 12 MB

Page 14

FOREWORD
When I started editing the Șatkhandāgama, there were several difficulties in my way. Still, when the first volume was published in 1939 and was received with general applause, I became hopeful that, inspite of all the hindrances then existing, all the three Siddhānta works would be brought to light in due course. But I did not then expect that my hope will materialize so soon as to lead to the publication of Jayadhavalā Vol. I in 1944 and of Mahābandha Vol. I in 1947, inspite of the additional difficulties in the way of such literary efforts, created by the World War. These successful efforts of the Jaina community and its scholars augur well for the future.
I had already described in my introduction to Vol. I of Șatkhandāgama, how copies of dhavalā and Jayadhavală Siddhānta had emerged from the Moodbidri temple as early as 1915 and how the same had become available in North India during the subsequent years, But the so-called Mahādhavalā Siddhānta was still confined to the private archives of the Moodbidri temple. When I examined critically the contents of these Siddhānta works in 1938-39, I was startled to find that the scanty information available about the manuscript of Mahädhavalā only showed the existence of a gloss (Parnjikā) on the supplementary portion (Cülikā) of Virasena's commentary Dhavală, and there was no trace of the Mahābandha. I, therefore, published a few articles on the subject expressing my anxiety in the matter and also urged upon the proper authorities the necessity of a thorough examination of the palm-leaf manuscript in search of Mahābadha. I am glad to say that my appeal met with a ready response. The Bhattārakaji got the palm-leaf manuscript examined by Pandit Lokanath Shastri and his colleagues, and reported to me that the gloss ended on leaf 27 and the rest of the MS. did contain the Mahābandha (see my article on “Sri Mahādhavalā men kyā hai?" in Jaina Siddhānta Bhāskara Vol. VII, June 1940, pp. 86-98; and “Mahābandha ki khoja" in Satkhandāgama Vol. III, 1941, Introdiction, pp. 6-14.)
The interest aroused by this discovery was kept up, and a transcript of the Mahābandha was completed by the end of 1942, mainly through the efforts of Pandit Sumeruchandra Diwakar, the editor of this volume, to whom my best thanks are due for the laudable task he has done in obtaining, editing and translating the text, as well as in writing the introduction which the readers would be well advised to supplement by the information presented in my introductions to the seven volumes of Satkhandāgama so for published, in order to get a clear idea of the history and subject-matter of these works. The remarks of Pandit Sumerchandraji on page 30 of his introduction regarding the Panca Namokāra Mantra as 'anibaddha mangala'in Jivatthāna appear to me to be entirely baseless as they are against the reading available in the old MSS. and the arguments set forth by Virasenacharya which I have discussed in my introduction to Vol. II, p. 33 ff. under the heading Namokara Mantra ke Adikartā.'