Concept of Pratikramana

Author(s): Nagin J Shah, Madhu Sen
Publisher: Gujarat Vidyapith Ahmedabad

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through a permanent endowment, is a major step for strengthening the tradition of teaching and research in Jaina Philosophy and Culture. The Centre will develop an integrated interdisciplinary approach towards the academic discipline of Jaina Studies. It will highlight the universal dimensions of Jaina Philosophy and Ethics as a positive philosophy of human development, examine it's great historic contribution to the diverse fields of Arts, Culture and human sciences and explore it's contemporary role in promotion of Ahimsamaya Jeevan. The teaching-research programmes being offered by the Centre for the academic year 1993-'94 include Pārangata (M.A.), Anupārargata (M.Phil), Vidyā- Vāchasputi (Ph.D.) Vidya-Vāridhi (Post Ph.D. - D.Litt) in Jaina Studies, along with short term vacational courses in various fields of Jainism, particularly for international visiting students and scholars. A Resource Centre in Jainism with computerised Data Base is also being developed for the benefits of the scholars and the community
One of the major research activity of the Centre, particularly during the initial years, will be editing, translation and republication of the earlier outstanding works in order to make this invaluable literature available to the larger public. Thus reprinting and translations along with critical evaluation of the works of the great scholars like Pt. Sukhlalji, Pt. Bechardas ji etc. are the immediate priorities of the Centre. The present monograph based on the Hindi Introduction to Pañca-Pratikramana by Pt. Sukhlalji is an humble attempt in this direction. It is hoped that present publication will mark the beginning of a series of complete publication of the works of these great scholars. We are grateful to Dr. Nagin J. Shah, the former Director of L. D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad (India), who is also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Centre, for initiating such studies. We also appreciate the efforts of Prof. Madhu Sen, the Director of the Centre, at Gujarat Vidyapith.
Research for this work was initiated under the auspices of Jain Internatioal, Ahmedabad which we thankfully acknowledge.
15th June, 1993
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Ramlal Parikh