Gandhi Before Gandhi

Author(s): Bipin Doshi, Priti Shah
Publisher: Jain Academy Educational Research Center Promotion Trust Mumbai

Page 108

GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI
Jains contribution to languages is also great, especially to Kannada, Telugu and Gujarati
disciple verbally without the help of books. Siddhasena Divakara, converted King Vikramaditya to Jainism, and is the author of many philosophies. Haribhadra, a Brahmin by birth and convert to Jainism, composed 1,444 Prakaranas (short treatises) on various subjects. Malaygiri is another well-known author. Abhayadeva Suri wrote commentaries on nine principal canonical works. Devendra Suri wrote works on Karma etc. Dharmasagara contributed a work on the history and beliefs of heterodox sects. Hemchandra, the well-known encyclopedic, brought Prince Kumarapala of Gujarat to Jainism, and is the reputed author of three crores and a half of couplets, Yasovijaya wrote many works. Muni Atmraramjee, who died only four years ago, composed several works in popular style, thus bringing home the Jain philosophy to the masses.
The sacred libraries of the Jains, established at various periods of our history for the purpose of facilitating to laymen the study of their philosophy and religion, contain thousands of manuscripts, some of which have not been allowed to be even looked at, for the reason that the Jains, not being aware of the motives of the European scholars, are still apprehensive of the consequences of Mohammedan sacrilege and destruction of everything that is holy. The libraries of Patan, Cambay, and Jessulmir have a worldwide reputation. A portion of manuscripts, deposited in those libraries, have been catalogued by Professors Buhler, Kielhorn, Bhandarkar and others.
In the literary world of India, Jains justly claim the credit of accurate recording of history. Accurate chronicling of events and history making seldom finds a place in the ancient works of Hindus. Among the Jains, however, the case is different.
Since the time of their first literary activity they have been recording the most important historical events of the time. Authors and commentators mention at the end of their respective works, the names of their spiritual predecessors and the work done by them. Jain Patta-valis list the spiritual heads of the community, with a short sketch of their lives and description of the leading events of that time, are well-known, and are being earnestly studied by German Oriental scholars and Professor Bendall of London Jacobi, Klatt, and last but not the least my friend Professor Leumann of the Strassburg University. They have settled many points of Jain history with the aid of these Pattavalis.
Distant seems to be the day when the European scholars will take an active interest in the philosophy embodied in those works. Four canonical works have been translated into English by Professor Jacobi in the "Sacred Books of the East" series. Portions of others are translated by continental Orientalists. Almost the whole canon in original, with commentaries and Gujrati translations has been published by the late Rai Dhauapatisinh Bahadur of Murshidabad. Some later works have been published by Bhimsinh Manek, the well-known Jain publisher of Bombay, now deceased. Much still remains to be done in the way of publication.
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