Agam 15 Upang 04 Pragnapana Sutra Pannavanna Terapanth

Author(s): Tulsi Acharya, Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 57

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Pustak Bhandara, Sardarshahar, Terapantha Sabha, Sardarshahar, Punamchand Buddhamai Dudhoriya, Chhapar, Ghewar Pustakalaya, Sujangarh, Jain Vishva Bharti, Ladnun and Jaisalmer Bhandara, in addition to Order's Bhandara. The text of Nandl revised by Muni Punyavijayaji was also made available to us. this proved a valuable assistance to us.
An important stage of the publication of the revised text of 32 agamas, which began under the able stewardship of Acarya Sri Tulsi as Vacana-pramukha, is completing today. For the first time the revised and authorised version of the 32 agamas is being made available to the scholars. It is a matter of ineffable joy for us.
The work of the editing of agamas first started in V.S. 2012 at Ujjain. In that year the word indexes of almost all the 32 agamas had been prepared. Several monks and nuns were actively engaged in it. Groups, each containing three or four monks or nuns, were formed and they finished the assignment without any loss of time. On the one hand the aged monks like Muni Chauthmalji, Muni Sohanlalji (Churu) etc. were actively engaged in it while on the other hand the younger monks too devoted themselves wholeheartedly to this job, which was like a campaign and every participant was full of the awakening of a new spirit. The text was unrevised so far, so it could not be utilised fully well. Word-indexes had got to be prepared anew, but whatever line of action was chalked out, was quite commendable. One special and worth-mentioning characteristic of this editing is that everything was done by the monks themselves and no external help from any scholar-householder was required. The whole credit goes to the leadership of Acarya Srl as also to the Terapanth Religious Order.
I cannot afford to forget on this occasion the services rendered by the late Madanchandji Gothi who had a very sound knowledge of agamas and was exceedingly helpful in revising the text of agamas. Had he been alive, he would have felt satisfied on the publication of this volume.
The Managing Director of the Agama series, Sri Srichand Rampuria (Vice-Chancellor, Jain Vishva Bharti) has been taking interest in this work since its inception. He is ever devoted to the task of popularising the Agamic lore. After retiring completely from his well-established profession, he has been devoting a major part of his time to the service of Agama literature. Sri Khemchand Sethia and Sri Srichand Bengani, the President and the Secretary respectively of Jain Vishva Bharti have cooperated a lot towards the successful completion of this task. The English rendering of 'Editorial' and 'Introduction' has been made by Dr. Nathmal Tatia.
The mention of the cooperation of the co-workers in a common enterprise is only a formality. In fact it was a sacred duty of all of us and that we have fulfilled.
Anuvrata Bhawan, Delhi.
-Yuvacārya Mahaprajña
22nd Oct., 1987.