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Publisher's Note
We feel immense pleasure to publish the Upadeśamālā of Dharmadāsagaṇi (4th-5th cent. B. C.). The work, being a poem, composed in Prakrit, has been highly celebrated in Jain religious literature Even today as the Garland of Instructions, it is chanted by Jain monks, nuns and house-holders. That is the reason why not only hundreds of Mss. but also thirty two commentaries on it of the Upadeśamālā available in different libraries and Bhandaras, have been composed and copied till today. Most of them have been published also.
Besides, almost thirty four instructive treatises are composed on the pattern of this work. But unfortunately the Mss. of the work bears a number of lapses and variations in its readings. In the present edition, effort has been made to establish the correct form of reading, restoring to collective base of old palm leaf and paper Mss. as well as to linguistics, grammar and prosody.
We are presenting this book in the hands of inquisitive readers just with a view to providing an aid to their knowledge.
The work has been edited by Dr. Dinanath Sharma, ás a part of his Ph. D. thesis. This is the outcome of his deep understanding of the subject and his long time research experience.
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