Dravya Sangraha

Author(s): Nemichandramuni
Publisher: Chandraprabha Digambar Jain Mandir Trust

Page 96

FOREWORD TO 3rd EDITION OF
“DRAVYA SANGRAHA”
This famous work ‘Dravya Sangraha' is a compendium of all aspects of Jain religion and philosophy. The greatness of this book can be realised from the fact that it is taught to all the Jain boys and girls for imparting basic knowledge of the Jain tenets.
Earlier second edition of this book was published in 1956 by Delhi Jain Samaj on the occasion of the seminar on 'Jainism and Universal Peace' held on the 2500th anniversary of Lord Buddha, and the copies of the same presented to the eminent deligates who attended the said function. Since then this book has never been republished so far. One fails to unde rstand as to why this book was not been republished on the auspicious occassion of Bhagwan Mahavirs 2500th Nirvana Anniversary celebrated in 1974-75 In the year 1982-83 four American students who were sent by Sir M.K. Gandhi, London, came to India for learning Jainism. They were, taught with the help of“ A Short Reader to Jain Doctrines" and this book "Dravya-Sangraha". As copies of 'Dravya- Sangraha' in English were no where available in the country except the one which I possessed, photostat copies had to be taken and given to those students. Really I felt unhappy with such a condition of such important scriptures in English
During 1984 'Paryushana Parva' when I had been to Shree, Chandraprabha Digambar Jain Mandir, Bhuleshwar, Bombay, for giving discourses, my suggestion of undertaking the work of publishing this great gem 'Dravya-Sangraha' (English) was readily accepted by Trustees of the Mandir Trust. So now this 3rd edition of this book is possible by the concerted efforts of Shri Moolchand Patni, Hon. secretary of the Library of the above Mandir and Shri Dharamchand Jain, Shri Madanlal Jain and other Trustees of the said Mandir
Shri Moolchand Patni not only deeply studied the English rendering of this ‘Dravya Sangraha' of Shri Saratchandra Ghosal but he also forwarded his valuable comments on it to me. He desired that my views be given about the author of the book, who according to him, is Nemichandra Siddhantideva and not Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarty. Till date most of us were knowing that Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarty' - who wrote Gommat sara, Labdhisara,