Manorama Kaha

SR No.: 002596
Original Sutra Author: Vardhmansuri
Author: Rupendrakumar Pagariya
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1983
Total Pages: 402
Language: Sanskrit
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 11 MB

Page 6

PREFACE
The L. D. Institute of Indology has great pleasure in publishing the hitherto unpublished Prakrit story entitled Manoramākalià composed in prose and verse by Vardhamanasūri (12th Century V. S.), a disciple of Abhayadevasūri, the well known comitentator of nine Jaina Āgamas. The work is very interesting as it contains nearly 80 tales, some of thein being floating folk-tales. It consists of about 3000 gātbās. It is voluminous; its extent is 16000 slokapramāņa. The story is full of interesting situations, characters are robust and realistic, descriptions are poetic and lively, and delineation of different sentiments (rasas) is appcaling. Moreover, the work contains rich material for liguistic and cultural studies.
Pt. Rupendrakumar Pagariya bas critically edited the text of this important work on the basis of two manuscripts, One belonging to the L. D. Iostitute of Indology, Ahmedabad, and another to the Terapanthi Bi andāra, Sardarpur (Rajasthan). He bas prepared a verse-index and tried to find out the sources of some of the verses. He has written an informative introduction in Hindi. Therein he describes the manuscripts used, summarises the story, points out the sources of the principal story and the secondary tales, and fioally gives an account of the author based on the author's colophons occurring at the end of his three works, viz. Manoramākana, Yugadidevacarita (Prakrit) and Dharmararnakarandaţikā (Sanskrit). Dharmuratnakarandatika has already been published by Pt. Hiralal Hansraj in V. S. 1995, while Yugādidevacarita is not yet published. Pt. Rupendrakumar has undertaken the work of critically editing this Yugadidevacarita which will be published in the L. D. Series as early as possible.
Our thanks are due to Pt. Rupendrakumar for editing the present work. And we express our gratefulness to Dr. H. C. Bhayari who examined the press-copy and made valuable suggestions.
It is hoped that students and scholars of Prakrit literature will find this Maņoramakahā valuable in various ways.
L. D. Institute of Indology Ahmedabad-380 009 15th June 1983
Nagin J. Shah. Acting Director