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 41

( 35 ) The collection was in a highly deplorable condition. But when I took up the work of cataloguing, Pravartaka Kántivijayaji to whom I shall ever remain under a deep debt of gratitute for his kind offices in helping me to have a complete access to these MSS., put the collection in order and change the old covers and supply new ones. The keeper of the collection was very obstinate and would only lend us 20 or 30 MSS. at a time; others were lent only when these were all returned. I had, therefore, to spend not only most of the day but also half of the night in inspecting the MSS. that they may be returned in time. The collection, as now catalogued by me, contuins 413 pothis; most of them contain single works though there are many which consist of more than one work. The keeper of the collection has now been furnished with a list of the MSS. in his collection with particulars of author, date of composition, and age of MS. compiled from the catalogue prepared by me.
II. The collection of the Sangha deposited in Vakliataji's Seri, Fofaliā Vādā is the largest collection at Pattan containing 2686 paper MSS. and 137 palm-leaf MSS. Most of the paper MSS. are on the wholo well arranged; but 81 small palm leaf MSS. were bundled up in cloth pieces without wooden boards and cloth covers when I first saw them. Pravartaka Kāntivijayaji has now got them arranged, placed them between wooden boards and they are well taken care of. Dr. Peterson has described 76 palm-leaf MSS. of this collection in his 5th report. The following three collections are also deposited here:
(1) The collection originally belonging to Limli's Pādā.
It contains at present 425 paper MSS., some of which are rare and old. It contains the oldest
paper MS. at Pattan written in Samvat. 1356–57. (2) New copies of some of the rare MSS. in Pattan
and elsewhere. The number of MSS. is.366. (3) Some of the MSS. belonging to Vastā-Māņek. III. The collection belonging to Vāļi Pārsvanātha's Temple contains only 4 palm-leaf MSS.; but the importance of the collection lies in the fact that, it contains a large number of paper MSS. copied from old palm-leaf MSS. about Samvat 1480-1490 under the orders of the then existing pontiff of the Kharatara Gaccha.