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Foreword
Ernst Leumann's "Übersicht über die Āvaśyaka Literatur" (Hamburg, 1934) is an important German work on the Avaśyaka Literature of Jain religion. E. Leumann has written this book after thorough study of Āgamic and non-Agamic texts. Experts and researchers who did not know German language could not use this important reference work. If this German work is translated in English i experts and students can easily use this research work. Meanwhile, I had an opportunity to meet George Baumann. I requested him to translate the book in English. He immediately and joyously accepted my request and translated without any expectation. Then I wished to have the translation checked before publication. I talked to Prof. Nalinibahen Balbir. She read the whole translation scrupulously and suggested some important suggestion which were incorporated. She also wrote a detailed introduction which is an addition to glory of this distinct translation. I am grateful to George Baumann as well as Nalini Balbir.
I, sincerely hope this English translation "An Outline of the Āvaśyaka Literature" of E. Leumann's work will be very useful to meticulous researchers and students. I thank all those who have helped publish this book.
Jitendra Shah
29-09-2010 Ahmedabad
Jain Education International
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