Sambodhi 2018 Vol 41

SR No.: 520791
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2018
Total Pages: 256
Language: English, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Sambodhi, & India
File Size: 20 MB

Page 82

Vol. XLI, 2018
The Jains in Ahmedabad
73
rejected the traditional definition of non-violence and defined a new meaning. Saman-Samani Diksha was started in Ahmedabad. Acharya Mahapragnaji had also visited the city with his purpose of spreading non-violence. He took great pains to restore peace in Gujarat after Godhra riots. He has written as many as 125 books and Gujarati translation of all his books have been published from Ahmedabad. Moreover, a meditation camp is organized by Preksha Vishwabharti for people of all walks of society. This Yajna has been organized since last 25 years and more than 1 lakh people have benefited from this. Manuscript libraries :
Since Ahmedabad has been the centre of Jainism, libraries of manuscripts have been established since decades. The most ancient reference is the library established by Acharya Jinbhadrasuri in 1402 A.D. Thus, the activity of maintaining books has been developing since about 600 years. There are two types of libraries in Ahmedabad : (1) libraries owned by Jain Sangh and (2) libraries associated with research institutes.
One well-known Manuscript library associated with research institute is the library of Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Bhartiya Sanskriti Vidyamandir(L.D.Institute of Indology). This library was the initiated by donation from Sheth Kastoorbhai Lalbhai. It started under the guidance of Munishri Punyavijayji and Pt. Dalsukhbhai Malvaniya. In fact Munishri Punyavijayji has inspired Sheth Kastoorbhai to start such an institute with Manuscript library for Research and reference work. The library has more than 75000 manuscripts on treatise on Ved, Upnishad, Bhagvat, Ramayan and Jain scriptures written in Sanskrit, Prakrit, old Gujarati, Vraj, Urdu, Udiya and Tamil. This collection also has books of poetry, Ayurveda, astrology, figures of speech, prosody and drama.
There are Manuscript libraries in B.J. Vidyabhavan, Gujarat Vidyapith, Maharshi Ved Vigyan Academy. There are 13 libraries are organized by Jain Sanghs. Amongst these libraries, manuscript collection of Koba is the largest one. It has about 2,50,000 manuscripts. Thus the total of all these manuscripts amount to approximately 4,50,000.
Jains have very carefully protected these manuscripts. Such conservation and preservation of Manuscripts is not set up in any other place in India. Printed books libraries :
Tradition Collecting books on Jainism has its origin since centuries in