________________
247
for the reason that the Jains, not being aware of the motives of the European scholars, are still apprehen-. sive of the consequences of Mohammedan sacrilege and destruction of everything that is holy. The libraries of Pattan, Cambay, and Jessulmir have .. worldwide reputation. A portion of manuscripts, deposited in those libraries, has been catalogued by Professors Bubler, Kielhorn, Bhandarkur, and others, Distant seems to be the day when the European scholars will take an active interest in the philosophy embodied in those works. Four canonical works have: been translated into English by Professor Jacobi in the “Sacred Books of the East ” series. Portions. of others are translated by continental Orientalists. Almost the whole canon in original, with commentaries and Gujrati translations, has been published by the late Rai Dhanapatisinh Bahadur of Murshidabad. Some later, works have been published by Bhimsind Manek, the well-known Jain publisher of Bombay, now deceased., Much still remains to be done in the way of publication.
The Jains have been a powerful and influential community in the history of India. Some of them held high positions under native and Mohammedar rule. Writing so far back as 1829, Colonel James Toj says in his “Annals of Rajasthan”.
“The number and power of
these
sectarians
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org