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 77

( 71 ) work entrusted to me. (4) The long practice of reading the old script of the MSS with remarkable speed. The script of the old palm-leaf and paper MSS differs much from that of the recent ones, and the quantity and quality (if one does not know the old script he would make a lot of mistakes in taking extracts) of the work done depends much upon the correctness and speed with which one can read the old MSS.
Most of my work was done in Sagar's Upāśraya and at my place. Had it not been for the kindness of Pravartaka Kāntivijayaji, I would have been obliged to go to work in the damp places of the Bhandars, and there, I would not have been able to work for more than five hours at the most; for the keepers of the Bhandars who are mostly traders cannot possibly spare much time for this work without their business being affected. The work of examining and taking necessary extracts from the MSS was done in a posture similar to that described by the old scribes at the end of MSS (Bhagnaprstha-kațigriva-adhomukha ) 'with the back, waist and neck bent and with the head leaning downwards.
The District officers were ready to help me, but fortunately I had not to trouble them for any of the Jain collections. Easy and free access to the Bhandars was obtained mainly tlırongh the exertions of Pravartaka Kántivijayaji and his pupil Pannyasu Chaturvijayaji, who not only sympathised but also took great interest in the work and helped me in many other ways. The keepers of the Bhandars were all very courteous. Sheth Vadilal Hirachand, the keeper of the Vāļi Pārsvanātha collection placed at my disposal his whole collection during the full time of my stay at Pattan. This collection, as it contained many important works, served me as a Reference collection. Moreover, he also helped me considerably in getting access to the palm-leaf collection in Sanghavi's Pādā. Sheth Bhogilal Halabbai, the keeper of the large collection in the Āgali Sheri lent out all his paper and palmleaf MSS to my place without any restriction whatever. Dr. A. D. Kothari, L. M. & S., a young and energetic private practitioner, also helped me in many ways.
This is only the summary report of my work at Pattan. The datailed report which would cover about 800 pages royal octavo, will include a catalogue raisonne of all the 658 palm-leaf MSS and an equal number of select, rare and important paper MSS'.......