Jain Spirit 2003 02 No 13

SR No.: 528993
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 68
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, UK_Jain Spirit, & UK
File Size: 17 MB

Page 26

FEATURES
TOP TEN BOOKS
Christopher K. Chapple
recommends the top ten scholarly books on Jainism
ever written in English
T
OF
TE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TODAY TO HAVE A Jainism. Babb, an anthropologist by training, developed
large number of excellent books in English on this study while engaged in field research in Rajasthan. He
Jainism. In this article I selected ten of my personal gives a wonderfully complete account of the relationship favourites, without giving a particular order.
between Shvetambaras and Digambaras in northern India The Jaina Path of Purification, by P.S. Jaini, conveys a and provides a detailed account of the Dada Gurus, the picture of the tradition that is rigorous
prominent leaders of the Tapa yet fun to read. It begins with a
Gacch, who wielded considerable dramatic description of sallekhana, then
THE
influence in the court of some outlines the basic Jain teachings and
Jaina Path
Mughal emperors. He combines describes with flair the process of
this historical perspective with close spiritual ascent through the fourteen
observance of contemporary ritual gunasthanas. Though I had been
Purification
practices. familiar with some earlier studies on
The Outlines of Jainism, by Jainism, this book brought the tradition
Jagmanderlal Jaini, published in alive for me when it was published in
1916, provides an excellent brief 1979. It helped inspire further studies of
overview of Jain thought. Written this important religion by a whole new
with great elegance and concision, generation of scholars.
this book needs to be republished. It The Jains, by Paul Dundas,
includes helpful charts and provides a comprehensive historical
summaries of key Jain stories and survey. When I first met Paul at a Jain
parables that add texture to one's conference in Amherst, Massachusetts,
study of the faith. shortly before the release of the book, I
That Which Is is a translation by was quite dazzled with the depth of his
Nathmal Tatia of Umasvati's historical knowledge and his familiarity
Tattvarthasutra. It summarises the with the primary figures of the extensive
Jain worldview in a manner Jain literary tradition. The book brought
accepted by both Shvetambaras and to me new understanding particularly of the medieval and early | Digambaras. I used it with an undergraduate class on Hindu modern periods. Gladly, a new edition of the book has just and Jain theology and the students loved it. It includes the been published by Routledge 2002 with diacritical marks, a root text with the original Sanskrit and summaries of the necessity woefully absent from the first edition.
major commentarial traditions. The book is beautifully Absent Lord: Ascetics and Kings in a Jain Ritual Culture, produced and well indexed. by Lawrence Alan Babb. The book combines fieldwork with The Acharangasutra was translated by Herman Jacobi historical research to produce an award winning account of over one hundred years ago. Even in its somewhat antique
Jana Pachar Puntiende
Padmanabh S. Jaini
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Jain Spirit . December 2002 - February 2003
Education International 2010_03