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comparative study. They give rise to the study of the development and transformation of language that have taken place in different centuries. The details given at the post-colophon entries of the Jaina preceptors and their genealogies are important sources from the historical point of view.
Most of these manuscripts of the collection are on paper copied down in Gujarat-South and North, Saurashtra, Kutch, Mewar and M.P. during 15 to 19 centuries. There are certain names of places which are still not identified and could be the subject of future research. They might be some small villages which now are unknown to us.
Some of the notable manuscripts are pointed out here as for examples :
There are specimens of different types of writing such as Dvipātha, Tripātha, Pañcapātha which is the distinctive feature of the Jaina caligraphy.
The illustrated manuscript of the Jaina Kalpasūtra is important as it is one of the earliest manuscripts. It is copied c.v.s. 1450 (1394 A.D.). The two manuscripts of the Uttarādhyayanasūtra are also copied in V.S. 1476 (1420 A.D.) and V.S. 1479 (1423 A.D.) respectively. There are some manuscripts of Jaina Āgamagranthas which are in golden and silver writings. The manuscript of Meghadūtacūrnikā with a beautiful handwriting is composed in V.S. 1471 (1415 A.D.) by unknown author is copied by Premajida. The Meghadūta by Merutungasūri of Añcalagaccha which was composed in imitation of Meghadīta of Kālidāsa is composed in the 15th century and copied in the same century. The manuscript of Sangrahaņīprakarana by Dayāsimhagani composed in V.S. 1328 (1272 A.D.) is copied in V.S. 1497 (1441 A.D.) in Citrakuta Mahādurga (i.e. Cittor).
There are Agamagranthas and other Jaina works with Cūrņi, Avacūrņi Stabakas, țabās and Bālāvabodhas in Gujarati. They are worth mentioning of this collection.
Ajitaprabhasüri's Sāntināthacaritra is copied by Rși Jayacandra at Vīrakşetra (i.e. Vadodara) in V.S. 1891 (1835 A.D.). The Kummāputracaritra by Jinamānikyasūri copied in V.S. 1840 (1784 A.D.) is also from Vadodara.
