________________
PREFACE
The Scindia Oriental Institute of Ujjain, well-known repository of manuscripts of works pertaining to Hindu Religion and Philosophy, and to Indian Literature in general, owns a number of manuscripts of Jaina works. Some of the latter are hitherto unpublished and even unknown, and deserve to be made accessible not only to the narrower circle of Jaina specialists, but to indologists in general. A selection of such texts is being published in the present volume. All of them belong to the category of hynnal literature, and are of Svetāmbara origin. Leaving aside their literary merits, some of these texts are of high interest as the creations of renowned authors, which, by some unexplained chance, have remained hidden from the light of publicity for centuries. There is a Mahavira-stuti from the hand of as old and distinguished an author as Jinapati Sūri