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Sponsor's Prologue
The Digambara Jaina Mahasabha is more than a century old socio-religious organisation committed to and working in (1) serving as a link between various activities of Digambara Jaina community (2) interaction with Jaina monks and nuns and (3) preservation of ancient Jaina religious manuscripts, archaeology and culture besides temples ard literature.
Its literary services include the publication of one of the oldest (104 years) weekly newspaper in Hindi titled as Jaina Gazette with wide circulation. It also caters to the needs of younger generation and women through its monthly magazines of Bālādarśa (Children's Magazine) and Mahilādarśa (Women's Magazine). Currently, the institution has also started two new wings called Tīrtha Sanrakṣiṇī and Śruta-samvardhini Mahāsabhā for promoting protection and renovation of ancient and modern holy places and promotion of Jinistic education and literature for the wider world. Each of these wings publishes its own magazine. The objectives of Mahāsabhā are regularly being carried out through renovation of many holy places and publication of large number of books of general and academic interest.
We have a concept that the language should not be barrier for dissemination of ancient eastern literature and wisdom. Accordingly, Mahāsabhā has decided to publish books in English also. The Digambaras have two earliest pro-canonical texts of Șatkhandāgama and Kaşāya-pāhuda. The English translation of Santa-parūvaņā part of the first book has already been published by us this year through initiation by Dr. S. A. B. Kumar of Brahmi Jaina Society, Canada and promoter of Jainism abroad in academic world. The book is translated by Dr. N. L. Jain, a prominent scholar of Jainology.
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