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(Seven)
The original translator of this work in Hindi, Pt. Bhagawandas .was a renowned Jain scholar of his times. The fields where he had established himself as unparalleled authority are architecture, painting, sculpture, and astrology. There was a time when almost all Jain images commissioned by any Jain acharya anywhere in India and sculpted or painted in Jaipur were made under his guidance and direction. He was also considered an authority on finalising sthapana muhurt (auspicious moment for consecrating of idols in temples). There can be no better evidence of his expertise than the fact that an eminent scholar like Shri Vasudevasaran Agrawal came to Jaipur and spent a fortnight to study Vastu Shastra under his guidance.
Pt. Bhagawandas ji was one of the illustrious group of scholars prepared by Acharya Vijaya Dharm Suri in his Yashovijay Jain Pathshala at Varanasi. Some of these towering personalities who dominated the field of Jainology during the first half of this century were - Pt, Sukh Lal ji, Pt. Bechardas ji, Pt. Hargovind Das Seth, Muni Shri Nyaya Vijaya ji, Muni Shri Vidya Vijaya ji, Pt. Lalchand Bhagavandas Gandhi, Shri Sushil, Pt. Virbhadra (Jaipur), and Pt. Abhayachand Bhagavandas Gandhi. : Pt. Bhagavandas ji came to Jaipur some time in 1940 and remained here till he breathed his last sometime in 1979 or 80. To him goes the credit of translating and publishing some very important technical Prakrit texts into Hindi - Vastusar of Thakkar Phery, 'Prasad Mandan and Devata-murti Prakaran of Sutradhar Mandan, Heer Kalash Jyotish (Prakrit and Rajasthani), Jyotishsaar-sunder, and Meghamahodaya-varsh-prabodh. He was the person who commissioned artists to complete the beautiful Jinadarshan Choubisi (beautiful paintings of 24 Tirthankars in Raj’asthani style). He also got this set published in book form. The original set is safe now with Acharya Vijaya Yashodev Suri. Prakrit Bharti Academy is the proud publisher of a new edition of this book. Soon its second edition is also coming.
