Nandanvana

SR No.: 006597
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N L Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 592
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 282

(262) Nandanavana
Pt. Padamachand Shastri, Pt. Shiv Charanlal, Dr. N.L. Jain, Udai Chand Jain (Prakrit epic author) and others at present. Of course, the present scholarship is based on specified subject rather than general. This tendency has developed since the days of Aryarakṣita's Anuyoga (exposition) concept. Among the Śvetāmbaras also, we have superscholars like Acārya Mahāprajña, and scholars like Dr. M. A. Dhaky, Dr. Sagarmal Jain and many monk-scholars. Assumption of their scholarship as a declining phase is misleading. It is suggested that the author should rectify his opinion in view of all the above informations.
However, the author has stated in his articles that neither proper Digambara literature is available, nor any Digambara scholar to inform them in their lands. He has, further, indicated that the current scholarship seems to have become limited to charisma and oratory, which is not accepted as scholarship in the west. The Jainas should ponder over this remark and try to improve their image in the west.
This abridged summary points lead us to take care of the following point to encourage familiarity, studies and research on Digambara Jainism in the west:
1. There is high intensity of ignorance about Digambara Jainism in the west. The reasons are:
(i) Non-availability of proper Digambara literature in English. (ii) Non-participation of Digambara scholars in related academic conferences abroad because of financial difficulties.
2. Almost all the scriptural texts of Svetambaras have been translated in English and other foreign languages, and have reached the western scholars. Unfortunately, none of the pro-canonical Digambara texts like Satkhandagama, Kaṣāyapāhuḍa, Mūlācāra, Bhagavati-arādhanā still remain untranslated (of course, Kundakunda texts are exception). It is stated; it took about 100 years to get the first two books from the matha, their Hindi translation and publication. Does it mean that the Digambara community will have the same inertia in this century? Once, I requested a Digambara Jainācārya to initiate this project for global promotion of Jainism along with a model book published from Jaina Vishva Bharati. But it seems he showed the same mentality, which has been stated by a western