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Digambara study has been woefully neglected in comparison to the Svefāmbars. Nevertheless, the Digambara Pandits have shown a sholarship like the western scholarship without being influenced by the western opinions. They showed the critical and independent thinking. However, there are many questions (like the authorship of Tattvärtha Sutra and Bhaktamara Stotra) which cannot be properly solved due to sectarianism. With this point in view, the westeners should study Jaina literature seriously as they also face the difficulty of language in many of which it is written. Nevertheless, the west aggress two authorities for the Jainas: (1) Sacred cannons and (2) Logic. Though the earlier should correspond with logic, but that is the supreme authority.
The author has stated that it is very necessary to enrich intellectualism for maintaining prestige of the Jaina system. The current status of Jainism is based on ancient intellectual literature. He seems to admit that the current Jaina scholarship is not equivalent to earlier saints and as a result he has expressed his intense disappointment at the declining intellectual level of current Jaina scholarship. To improve this state of affairs, he has hoped and suggested to have a full-fledged center in London with independent financial status. While indicating this point, he has praised the scholarship of Muni Jambuvijayji, Punyavijayji, and Jinavijayji alongwith Pt. Sukhalalji, Bechardasji and Malavaniaji. However, there is not a single name of any equivalent Digambara scholars. It shows the ignorance about Digambara Jainism in the west. However, the Digambars did have president - award-winner Dr. Darbarilal Kothia, Pt. Jyoti Prasad and Acārya Jnansagarji in the past and do have Acārya Vidyasagarji, Ganini Jnanamatiji, Aryikā Visuddhamatiji, President - award-winner Dr. Rajaram, Pt. Padamchand Shastri, Pt. Shivcharanlal, Dr. N.L. Jain, Dr. Udaichand Jain (Prakrit epic author) and others at present. Of course, the present scholarship is based on specified subject rather than general. This tendency has developed since the days of Arya-rakshiat's Anuyog (exposition) concept. Among the Svetambaras also, we have super-scholars like Acārya Mahaprajna and scholars Dr. M. A. Dhaky, Dr. Sagarmal Jain and many monk - scholars. Assumption of their scholarship as a declining phase is misleading, It is suggested that the author should rectify his opinion in view of all the above informations.
However, the author has stated in his articles that neither proper Digambara literature is available, nor any Digambara scholar to inform them in their lands. He has, further, indicated that the current scholarship seems to have become limited to charishma and oratory, which is not accepted as scholarship
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Arhat Vacana, 15 (3), 2003
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