Jain Digest 2007 11 1

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 15

AM
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W JAIN DIGEST • Winter 2007
AIN DIGE occur in interpretations. One pertains to the possibilities for
Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, binding together of Pudgal (lifeless particles) described in Sutra
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and west Bengal. The details can be 36 of chapter 5. The other occurs in chapter 9, while discussing
found at http://ignca.nic.in/manus003.htm the hardships to be borne by the omniscient Lords. Both the texts specify eleven such hardships. Digambar interpretation, India's oldest manuscript libraries have been preserved in however, emphasizes that though such physical hardships may Jaisalmer, Patan and Koba. occur, the omniscient Lords stay beyond the bodily sense and
• Patan: Sri Hemchandra Jain Gnän Mandir hence they do not experience the same. Bearing of the hardships • Jaiselemer: Jain Gnän Bhandar Library should therefore be deemed as formal rather than real.
• Koba, Gandhinagar: Sri Mahavir Jain, aradhana Kendra, It would be seen from the above details that there are no major
Acharya Shri. Kailas Sagar, Shri Gnän Mandir differences between the two texts and the purpose of the Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology was established by composition remains intact. There also happen to be some Muni Shri Punyavijavii and Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai in 1962. verbal variations in the text occurring here and there, but they The Library, started by the generous contribution of the do not make substantial difference in the meaning and can founders oradually became a priceless repository of therefore be ignored. The differences are thus few and far manuscripts, books and other reference material. It has a between, and the overall text remains common.
reputation as the one of the largest treasure houses of The spiritual compositions start on the basis that the worldly manuscripts relating to Jainism. The L.D. Institute has a library life is unhappy and miserable, and the way to be free from that consisting of nearly 45,000 printed books nearly 75,000 is to gain liberation. As such, liberation happens to be the manuscripts including 500 illustrated manuscripts, covering a common objective of all such compositions belonging to wide range of subjects, like the Vedas, agamas, Buddhist Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Tattvärtha is not the religion, tantra, Jain darshana, systems of Indian philosophy exception. The text starts with 'Samyagdarshanjnänchariträni and Jaina philosophy, grammar, poetics etc. The institution Mokshamärgah' (Right perception, right faith and right practice has published seven volumes of tabular catalogues, representing constitute the path of liberation), and then proceeds to explain several languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabhramsa, Old the various aspects pertaining to that path.
Gujarati, Hindi and Rajasthani. For making out the path of liberation, one needs to know the L. D. Institute, Ahmedabad has been collaborating with the existing position and then consider what needs to be done for National Mission as an MRC since September 2003. It has, so going ahead. The former aspect is termed as Jneya Mimänsä, far documented 50,000 manuscripts in the different Jaina meaning the discussion about what is to be known. The latter Bhandars of Gujarat State and catalogued 19,462 electronic aspect is known as Chäritra Mimänsä meaning the discussion data in the e-granthavali database. It has covered eleven about the practice or conduct. The spiritual books are supposed institutions covering eight districts during the survey and has to deal with these two aspects. Some of them lay emphasis on held many publicity programs in the print and electronic media one and keep the other subsidiary. Tattvärtha Sutra gives equal for sensitizing the people on the preservation of manuscripts. importance to both of them.
A two-week workshop on manuscriptology and paleography Tattvärtha Sutra should therefore be included in the higher- was held in August 2004 with forty-five participants and twenty level courses of Päthshäläs. In this connection it is worth resource persons. pointing out what Pundit Sukhlälji has said. He emphasizes Parshwanath Vidyapeeth (at Varanasi adjoining Banaras that merely studying the text cannot give comprehensive Hindu University, India) is an institution, well known for its concept of the subject. Tattvärthabhäshya as well as
engagement and involvement in higher education, research and Sarvärthasiddhi need be studied. If one exclusively resorts to
publication work based on Jain Canonical works, ancient any one of them, he would miss the true significance of the
Indian languages - Apbhransh, Prakrit and Sanskrit, and composition. After studying the text, one should therefore
translations of the ancient texts in modern languages.
translations of the undertake the study of Tattvärthabhäshya or of Sarvärthasiddhi and that should be followed by a comparative study of the
It has so far produced 60 Ph.D. and D. Lit. scholars. There are other. If one wants to go still deeper, he can then study Räjvärtik
about 30-40 students studying at the institute for their Ph.D. and Shlokvärtik, two other learned commentaries of Tattvärtha
degrees and research theses. The institute at present employs 7 Sutra.
permanent faculty members besides other visiting faculty,
supervised by an empowered Academic Council that monitors HAHAN Jain Gnän Bhandar
the quality of work and sets the standards and direction of Compiled by Guest Editorial Team future research. The institute publishes a quarterly research
journal named - "Shraman". Located on a 4 acre, self owned Jainism puts great stress on learning. Jains have been prolific
land, in the vicinity of BHU Varanasi, the Institute has a campus authors and avid readers. According to the 2001 census, the
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of
offering facilities of a highly specialized library with 32,000 Jains are the most literate community in India.
books; over 1000 original manuscripts and reference books of There are over 100 Jain Gnän (Grantha) Bhandar all over India Jain and comparative studies, a conference hall, offices, where Jain Manuscripts can be found. They are in Bihar, Delhi, computers, an art gallery, lecture rooms.
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