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In the early stages of the nineteenth century, when the tradition of printing Agamas began, readers found some convenience. When the ancient commentaries, Churnis and Niyuktis of the Agamas were published and based on them, the simple and clear understanding of the Agamas was printed and made available to the readers, the study of Agam knowledge naturally increased, hundreds of curious people developed a tendency towards Agam self-study and Jain and non-Jain scholars from India and abroad also started practicing the Agamas.
It is difficult to mention the names of all the scholars and wise Shramans who did historical work in the publication, editing and printing of the Agamas, due to lack of sufficient material. Nevertheless, I will definitely mention the names of some great monks of the Stanakwasi tradition.
Reverend Shri Amolkarishiji Maharaj was a great courageous and determined monk of the Stanakwasi tradition, who, with the strength of meager resources, translated all thirty-two Sutras into Hindi and made them accessible to the masses. The editing and publication of all thirty-two was a historical work, which benefited the entire Stanakwasi and Terapanthi society. A resolution of Gurudev Pujya Swami Shri Joravarmalji Maharaj -
When I was studying the Agamas under the guidance of Gurudev Late Swami Shri Joravarmalji Maharaj, some Agamas published by the Agamoday Committee were available. Gurudev used to make me study based on them. Seeing them, Gurudev felt that although these editions are quite laborious and are also quite pure in the available editions so far, yet many places are unclear. There is also a difference somewhere in the original text and its commentary, somewhere the commentary is very brief.
Gurudev Swami Shri Joravarmalji Maharaj himself was a great scholar of Jain Sutras. His intellect was very learned and argumentative. Seeing this state of Agam literature, he was very pained and many times he also expressed that if the Agamas were published in a pure, beautiful and universally useful way, then many people would be benefited, due to some circumstances, his resolution remained limited to just a feeling.
Meanwhile, Acharya Shri Jawaharlalji Maharaj, Jain Dharmadiwakar Acharya Shri Atmaramji Maharaj, Pujya Shri Ghasilalji Maharaj etc. learned monks have fulfilled this deficiency by writing beautiful explanations and commentaries of the Agamas or by getting them written under their guidance.
At present, Acharya Shri Tulsi of the Terapanth sect has also started this Herculean effort and their Agam work is going on at a good level. Muni Shri Kanhaiyalalji 'Kamal' is making a unique and important effort to classify the statements of the Agamas into Anuyogas.
The learned Shraman Late Muni Shri Punyavijayji of the Shwetambar Murtipujak tradition had started a very systematic and excellent work in the direction of Agam editing. After his demise, this beautiful effort is going on under the guidance of Muni Shri Jambhuvijayji.
After taking a panoramic view of all the above works, a resolution arose in my mind. Today, somewhere the original of the Agamas is being published and somewhere the vast explanations of the Agamas are being done. One is incomprehensible for the reader, while the other is complex. There should be such an effort to reveal the essence of Agamvani by following the middle path, which is also understandable, simple, concise, but meaningful and easy.
Gurudev wanted the same. Keeping that feeling in mind, I started thinking about this subject 4-5 years ago.
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