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SAMANASUTTAM A COMPEDIUM OF THE AGAMAS
The Agamas, the sacred scriptures of the Jainas are vast and varied holy doctrines and writings written in Prakrit language with Ardhamagadhi and Sauraseni forms. They have preserved the philosophical reflections of the Tirthankaras.
During the 2500th Anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the last Tirthankar, in 1974, Vinobha Bhave, who have been inspired and energised by whole Jaina doctrines in his spiritual and social reform themes, urged the Jain community in India to produce an opus on the Agamas. Under a singular guidance of Jain Acharyas, saints and scholars worked arduously and thus born, SAMANASUTTAM in the year 1974.
Samanasuttam is the bespoken words and the doctrines delineated by the great Sramanas, the Tirthankars and the Saints. It is the cardinal holy book of Jain religion and its followers. It consists of 756 Prakrit gathas (verses), divided into 44 chapters dealing with various facets of Jainism. All Jain schools of thoughts, irrespective of their regional or linguistic diversities, consider Samanasuttam as the cardinal holy book, a compedium of reflections, philosophy and doctrines of Jain Religion.
Dr Kamal Chand Sogani, formerly Professor of Philosophy at Sukhadia University in Udaipur, India, has begun translating Samanasuttam into English. Some of those English verses have already appeared in Gommatavani and Jain Digest magazines.
- Dr K.C.Sogani H7 Chittaranjan Marg Jaipur - 30200, India.
DR DULICHANDRA JAIN SPEAKS AT ESSEX FALLS,NJ & CHAPEL HILL, NC
Dr Dlichandra Jain, a professor at York college of CUNY and editor of respected quarterly magazine, The Jain Study Circular, recently
d the members of New Jersey Jain Center at Essex Falls and the members of North Carolina Jain Study Center at Chape! Hill.
The lectures touched upon the doctrines of Jain Religion, their essence and their ecclesiastical outlook were intersting, engaging and thought provoking.
Dr Jain, a scholar and a man of great thoughts and deeds, has been successfully publishing and editing Jain Study Circular for the past eight years. Dr Jain is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Jain Federation of North America.
Lecture at Essex Falls was delivered on July 24,1988 and at Chapel Hill, the lecture was arranged on 6 August 1988.
The Jaina concept of humam solidarity emphasises oneness of humans and the co-habitation of all living beings
- Mr M.K.Dharmaraja, New Delhi, India
Journalist & Scholar Editorial in Gommatavani July 1988 For Private & Personal Use Only
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