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whether literary or epigraphic, are put together and critically evaluated. In the Second section the problem of Kundakunda's date is discussed by stating the views of earlier writers, by analysing the underlying facts, and by scrutinizing the same in the light of fresh material. The Third section is devoted to the study of Kundakunda's works; the contents of every work are analysed and critical remarks on each are added: thus attention is devoted both to the form as well as contents of each work. The Fourth section is occupied by the study of Pravacanasǎra: a chronological sketch of Pravacanasāra-studies is given; two recensions of the text are subjected to critical study; the contents of the work are summarised in detail; great attention is devoted to the philosophical aspects of Pravacanasara from which the various topics are constructively set forth and studied on historical and critical lines in comparison with other systems of Indian philosophy; and lastly the monastic aspect of the work is discussed in comparison with that of Buddhism. In the Fifth section short monographs on the six commentators of Pravacanasara are added: all the available information about them and about their works is put together; in every case, attempt has been made to settle their dates; and the quotations etc. from the commentaries of some of them are also traced to their sources. The Sixth section is devoted to the study of the Prakrit dialect of Pravacanasara: a grammatical analysis of the dialect is given; an attempt is made to define its place in the scheme of Prakrit dialects, outlining a historical and geographic back-ground of this dialect; and lastly its name and its relation pre-classical Prakrit postulated by Dr. JACOBI are discussed. Th will be seen that many new facts about Kundakunda and his wo brought to light, and his place in the scheme of Jaina liter ascertained. Originally a portion of this Introduction was cove a series of lectures delivered by me, as a Post-graduate Teacher in Ardha-magadhi, University of Bombay, to the M. A. students.
PREFACE
The philosophical aspect of Pravacanasāra, as set forth in th Introduction here, is expected to be a modest outline to the student to an exhaustive study of Jaina philosophy.
has now come, I believe, when we should no more assess the Samkhya, Jaina, Buddhistic and Ājīvika tenets as mere perverted continuations of stray thoughts selected at random from the Upanisadic bed of Aryan thought-current. The inherent similarities in these systems, as against the essential dissimilarities with Aryan (Vedic and Brabanic) religion and the gaps that a dispassionate study might detect