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PUBLISHER'S NOTE
We have pleasure in publishing Dr. Suzuko Ohira's "A STUDY OF THE BHAGAVATĪSUTRA A Chronological Analysis". Jainas have already accepted Bhagavati-sútra as an important text amongst all the Jaina canonical texts. The Western scholars too have equally considered the first twenty (I-XX) Satakas of Bhagavati as the oldest one.
Dr. Ohira in her attempt has tried to set the chronological stratification of first twenty Satakas of Bhagavati with the awareness of the development of thoughts running through the canonical period. For this she has studied the thought contents of all the Agamic-texts, which she further stratified into five stages and compared both with a successful endeavour for the stratification of 1st 20 Satakas of Bhagavati.
Dr. Ohira has spared no effort to bring in such a nice work. The Publication of such monographs is rare in Jaina studies, so my special thanks to Dr. Ohira on behalf of the Society.
This detailed study has been done for the first time and the credit must be given to Dr. Ohira.
I have also to thank Dr. Klaus Bruhn and Dr. Klaus Butzenberger for giving us very learned Foreword to the work. of Dr. Ohira
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