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જ્ઞાનાંજલિ
Jaisaliner where he was engaged in sorting and putting in order the manuscripts of the fainous Great Bhandar, of which he permitted me to photograph a selection of special interest to me. The days spent with him and his devuted helpers, both monks and layınen, in the fantastic desert city, and subsequently at Patan, Cambay and Ahmedabail, are deeply engraved upon my memory. Meetings and discussious with him in subsequent years have increased the debt of gratitude I owe him and highten. ed my appreciation of a model monk and true scholar of wide interests.
I hope and pray that he may be enabled to continue for many more years with unimpaired health and undiminished energy, his admirable work to the benefit of the Jain Dharma, of India, and of ludology in East and West.
Prof. Dr. L. Alsdorf Professor of Indology, University of Hamburg.
IV
Homage And Reminiscences My introduction to studies in India was most auspicious. At that time my teacher recommended me to the Muniji who generously agreed to my reading old Gujarati texts with him*. His erudition and good humor made each visit a delight and I am ever grateful to him for his encouragement of my researches. He made it possible for me to microfilin manuscripts which, otherwise, would not have been accessible to me. Often when invaluable documents were deposited in bhandars I could not reach, he would ask that they be sent to him. What other means had I to indicate my appreciation of his selflessness but to devote in yself to these researches over the years to the best of my ability and beyond ?
It would be presumptuous of me to even attempt to write of the height and breadth of this noble personage's scholarly achievements and contributions or to allude to his selfless efforts to further Jain studies (and Indian studies, as well ) by providing for reseachers' inspection and
* My good frind, Dr Umakant Premanand Shah, will recall those days in ea. rly 1949 when he would accompany me to the Muniji's asram in Baroda until he was sure that I coulj make my thoughts clear and comprehend the discussion. The Muniji far too modestly disclaimed skill in Hindi, and the three of us had few illusions regarding the calibre of my Gujarati in those early days.
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