Catalogue of Manuscripts at Jesalmer

SR No.: 018035
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: C D Dalal
Publisher: Central Library
Publication Year: 1923
Total Pages: 180
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Catalogue & Catalogue
File Size: 8 MB

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only a small portion of one, viz, the Bada (Big) Bhandar, the con tents of which he estimates as about 400 or so, whereas even Professor S. R. Bhandarkar knew of 2,200 works in the Big Bhandar. In a letter written in Bikanir to the Berlin Academy," and dated February 14th, 1874, only fourteen days after his communication to the Indian Antiquary, Dr. Bühler remarks:
"In Jessalmir, which was founded about the middle of the twelfth century...there is a large colony of Jains......A temple was built under the pontificate of Jina Bhadrasuri, to which were gradually added six other temples. Through this temple and the wealth of the Jain community...... Jessulmir has obtained a high fame as one of the principal seats of the Jain faith. Especially, however, is the renown of the Bhandar everywhere celebrated, which according to the statements of the Gujaratis, surpasses all similar Bhandars in the world. It was therefore one of the chief objects of my journey to obtain admittance to this Bhandar, and to make its contents accessible to science. After some trouble I succeeded in solving the mystery, and it turns out that the magnitude of the Bhandar has been very much exaggerated, but its contents are nevertheless of great value."
About thirty years after Dr. Bühler's visit, he was followed by Professor Shridhar R. Bhandarkar, who has given us the result of his labours in the "Report of a second tour in search of manuscripts in Rajputana and Central India in 1904-5 and 19056," published in 1909. About the same time the Jain Swetambar Conference was collecting materials for its "Granthavali," which also appeared in 1909. Professor Bhandarkar's Report is a very interesting and important one. However, it is somewhat unfortunate that he placed so much reliance on a catalogue of Jesalmere manuscripts compiled by one of the Conference pandits, and has thereby occasionally been led into error, for, as the Conference itself confessed in its "Granthavali," the catalogue was a very faulty and imperfect piece of work. In the present Catalogue an attempt has been made to rectify these errors..
The "Descriptive Catalogue" now offered to the public is believed to be pretty exhaustive, and to mention all the important palm leaf and paper manuscripts in Jesalmere. It is the work of a scholarly young Jain, the late Mr. C. D. Dalal, Sanskrit Librarian, Baroda Central Library. Mr. Dalal was well equipped for his arduous task. He was held in high esteem by the learned
(1) Vide Indian Antiquary, IV, pp. 81-83.