Ardha Magadhi Reader

Author(s): B D Jain
Publisher: Shri Satguru Publications

Page 66

( lxiv)
of the Abhidhána Rájendra, in books published by Hiralal Hansraj of Jamnagar and by the Jain-Dharm Prasárak Sabha, Bhávnagar. The Jain Sreyaskar Mandal, lesana (bathia vad) has brought out a primer of Jain Script (wat alemania) in which several conjuct consonants are absent, printed at Lakshmi Printing Press, Ahmedabad, 1914 ; price 9 pies.
It is a religious duty of the Jains to preserve their sacred manuscripts carefully and to get their copies made. (tu publish thein in the modern sense) lest they should become extinct. Orthodox Jains, especially the Digambars, did not allow their works to be printed but this restriction is not fully observed now. The manuscripts are first put between wooden boards, then wrapped tightly in a piece of cloth? and are finally locked in wooden boxes. After the rainy season is over, they are exposed to sunshine and are cleaned of germs and dirt.
Jain manuscripts are found all over India, but chiefly in the Bombay Presidency, Gujrat and Rajputana, as is clear from the catalogues of MSS prepared by the provincial governments. These reports and catalogues form the basis of Jaingranthávalí published by the Jain Conference. Not a small number of Jain MSS. have been taken to the public libraries of the various countries
(1). ये लेखयन्ति जिनशासनपुस्तकानि,व्याख्यानयन्ति च पठन्ति च पाठयन्ति। शृण्वन्ति रक्षणविधौ च समाद्रियन्ते, ते देवमर्त्य शिवशर्म नरा लभन्ते ।
Rutnamandiragani’s Goduntfpot p. 139. (2). The bundle is called Putthi. (3). Called Vábrás.