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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
( xviii)
While an image is immensely popular in Bengal, the diagram is more popular elsewhere (6579 ff).
IV. SOME IMPORTANT WORKS
A brief passing reference may now be made to the characteristic features of a selected number of the more important but little-known works, MSS. of which are described in the following pages. There are a good number of works which are unique and are noticed here for the first time. The names of these have generally been marked with an asterisk in the index of titles. But even under titles without any mark there are not a few works which though already noticed are either inaccessible elsewhere or are still unique other notices referring to MSS. described in the following pages. But in a manuscript collection it is not only the MSS. of hitherto unknown works that are important and useful. It is not infrequently that MSS. of well-known works are immensely useful for the determination of the correct text of a particular work. Tantra works again, especially the original tantras, possess immense textual irregularities and variations. It will be noticed that even the number and arrangement of the chapters of a work differ in different MSS., a comparative analysis of several of which is therefore essential for a critical edition,
Some of the MSS. present different versions of even a number of later digests and commentaries. Of these mention may be made of the following:
6232. Mantra-candrikā of Janārdana.
The MS. of the Society contains an elated version of the work of which a shorter version is described in L.II. 911.
6352. Kramottama of Nijātmānandanātha.
This seems to represent an abridged version of the work as contained in No. 6351.
6438. Kaulāvalī of Jñānānanda.
This constitutes a shorter version of the work of the same name published in the Tantrik Texts Series (Vol. XIV) 1. An idea of the
1 Notices of two manuscripts by MM. H. P. Shastri and Prof. Kielhorn reveal that the work had other versions as well (Ind. Cult., III, p. 519).
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