Descriptive Catalogue of Manuscripts in Jain Bhandars at Patan

SR No.: 011005
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Lalchandra B Gandhi
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra
Publication Year: 1937
Total Pages: 591
Language: English
Classification: Catalogue
File Size: 32 MB

Page 39

A REPORT ON THE SEARCII FOR MANUSCRIPTS
IN THE JAIN BIIANTARS AT PATTAN.
Ever since its foundation, Pattan has been the centre of Jainism, and under the beneficient royal patronage afforded to it in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, its preceptors devoted themselves to writing historical, religious, ethical, philosophical, literary and other works. Although the work was continued in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries and still later, the works composed in the 11th to 13th centuries are of greater historical interest than those composed later on. This literary activity resulted in the formation of great libraries for collecting and preserving old, contemporaneous and new compositions.
The gift of books to the preceptors for the purpose of reading and reciting them to the people is considered a great incrit among the Jains, and hence they spent in former times and are still spending a large amount of money for getting MSS. written. Kumārapāla is said to have established 21 big Bhandars, while Vastupāla, the Minister of Viradhavala, had also founded three big Bhandars at the enormous cost of 18 crores. Rich and pious Jains also devoted a large sum of money after this for the merit of their deceased relatives. All this is evident from the important Prasastis (donor's colophons) given at the end of the respective MSS. This will account for the large accumulation of MSS. in the Jain Bhandars.
It is a matter of regret that out of the Bhandars founded by Kumārapāla and Vastupāla and other Jain Ministers, no Bhandar is at present extant. No single MS. written at the command of Kumārapāla is to be found in the Pattan Bhandars. This is accounted for by the fact that Kumārapāla's successor Ajayapāla was a great hater of Jains and Jainism, and tried his level best to destroy the Jain literature. Minister Udayana and others at that time removed the MSS. from Pattan to Jesalmere and other unknown places. The palm-leaf MSS. at Jesalmere are mainly from Pattan. The libraries founded by Vastupāla met the same fate, perhaps at the hands of the Maliomedans.