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Four Institutions
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cope up with research in its entirety. Researchers Indian and from foreign countries in large numbers, and several other scholars, have passed years after these Bhandars, and they are simply spell-bound by studying their contents and noting the methods of the preserv. ation of manuscripts. Difference between Brāhuaja and Jaina Bhandārs.
One remarkable difference between the two is that while the Brahmin Bhandārs are mostly owned by individuals, the Jain Bhandārs are mostly in the custody of Sanghas. Some times some are owned by individuals, but this is just for good use. When misused, mostly the power of the Sangha dominates. Brahmins observe the fesitval known as Sarasvatiśayana for freeing the manu.
scripts from the dew of the monsoon and for looking after the preservation of the same. The Jains know the fifth day of the month of Kārtika as the festival of Jnānapancami and on this day they worship the Bhandār and remove the dirt and impurity from the Bhandār on the occasion. Thus, the Jain institution of knowledge that was once only oral, has taken to several changes; it is today in a concrete form before our very eyes in all variety.
(Darśan ane Cintan, pt. 1, pp. 373-75) Non-Sectarian Vision of Jain Bhandārs.
It would not be true to state that only Jain Śāstras and philosoy phies are preserved in these large treasures of knowledge, esta blished centuries back. Actually all Šāstras and spiritual works are Preserved through them, from a non-sectarian point of view, works on Vedas, Jyotişa, Tantra, music, Oceanography, linguistics, poetry, dramas, Puranas, poetics. and Kathā literature are preserved and protected in the Jain libraries. Further, through the study of and research on these works, by specially qualified scholars, new works that are rare to be found elsewhere, are composed by them and treasured in these libraries. Many of these are original too. Works even of Bauddha and other traditions are found in these Bhandārs and many of these are not available in their original form elsewhere,
(Darśan aur Cintan, pt. 2, pp. 518-519)
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