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EXTRACTS FROM THE FOREWORD
(TO THE GUJARATI ORIGINAL)
BY
K. M. MUNSHI.
This is a very praiseworthy attempt, as it represents the heavy task of bringing out the history of Gujarat, which lies embeded in the numerous Jain works that have come to light. Midaeval history of Gujarat depends upon the Jain works, for it is mostly there that the history of that period is to be found.
In this work Muni Vidyavijay has undertaken to depict the history of the life and times of that great Jain monk who had made the great Akbar his pupil. In so doing he has spared no pains. Always keeping the historical vtewpoint before himself, he has utilised other historical sources also. He has investigated the truth with the viewpoint of an impartial historian. This book, therefore, has become mostly historical. The author himself is a Jain monk. The hero of the work was a great Jain monk. His materials were mostly embeded in the ancient Jain literature, Seeing all this, we cannot sufficiently congratulate the Muniji on his achievement.
This subject has been easy to handle after 'The Akbar' of Mr. Vincent Smith was written. But in writing this work our author has mostly utilised the following works :Vijayprashastikavya of Hemavijay, Hirsaubhagyakavya of Devavimal and Hirvijaysuriras of Kavi Rishabhadas.
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
