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point. Amongst the Jains we can make mention of Shatavadhani's "Ardh Magadhi Kosh”, which gives a very short explanation, in Gujrati, Hindi and English, of Ardh Magadhi words only from the Swetambara Shastras. While in the present work we see a glimpse of such completion, at least from the Digambaras' point of view, and we may style it a Key? to open the treasuries of hidden Jain Siddhanta. Magtering the 'Key', we shall be able to examine their precious contents.
Besides, available Jain books and lyrics have a testative character through the impossibility of exainining the whole collection. So this work would be of a great help to future studies and editions on Jainism. By studying this work, a reader would learn about every branch of Jainology. Really it is a boon to those Hindi readers who are interested in studying the various branches of Indology. The method applied for giving and defining the meaning of every word is very expressive and exhaustive altogether, the style of narration quite definite and authoritative, and the language is, also, simple and comprehensible to all. The author has not kept him reserved to the support of Jain Shastras, but has made use of other non-Jain and research works as far as possible. He has not forgotten to quote the authorities in his favour, but on certain occasions he has failed to do so. However one thing will surely be a cause for the dissension of a reader that the author has omitted all those Hindi words which have no connection with Jainism. If he would have done likewise, the value of the work would have increased much. But this was not easy for a single person to complete such a comprehensive work all alone. Already it is a matter of curiosity and gratification that the author has completed all himself the present big work. Its historical treatises are also worth reading. The first volume covers in its 280 odd pages the words beginning with the Vowel '37', -"3TUOT's being the last. This means that it will get completed in no less than 12000 pages. In short, its perusal will surely enlighten the reader on various topics of Philosophy, History, Geography, Astronomy, etc. in a quite extra-ordinary way. Really the work when published completely shall serve various useful purposes and be of great interest to the students of Religion and History. Of course, 1 think, this is the right way to Propagate interest in the mighty religion of the Jains. I extend my sincere thanks again to the author and wish every success to his future undertakings for the sacred cause.
JASIVANTNAGARC ETAWAH] 11th.MAY, 1925.
K. PJAIN HONOURARY SUB-EDITOR VIRA, BIJNOR.
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