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JAIN JOURNAL
The cūrņis and tikās are, however, not restricted to the Agamic texts ; they have also covered the post-Agamic literature. Besides, they contain many independent lines providing us useful window to such diverse subjects as ācāra, daršana, karma, jñāna, pramāņa, yoga, even civics, politics, geography, sociology, psychology, and sex. In fact, the cūrņīs and tikās contain such independent treasure of knowledge that it will be doing them less than justice to view them as mere note-books. In fact some of the Jaina tikākāras were great encyclopaedists in whose works the past knowledge attained a synthesis and then these opened new grounds. Among the cūrni writers the most celebrated name is that of Jinadasa Gani Mahattara who is the author of at least eight of them. Some of the cūrņis follow the niryuktis while others follow the Agamic texts. Only a few follow both. Among the Sanskrit tikākāras, the earliest name is that of Acarya Jinabhadra Gani who was simultaneously a writer of cūrni and bhāşya, and hence who could be placed in any one of the three categories. Among those who may be mentioned exclusively as tīkākāras, the more celebrated names are Haribhadra Suri, Silankacarya, Vadi-vetala Santi Suri, Abhayadeva Suri, Malayagiri and Maladhari Hemacandra. A more complete list of available names would simply be formidable. Needless to mention many names are lost. It is no easy job to introduce such an enormous literature as a part of literary history. The author deserves congratulation for having accomplished it with such exceptional ability."
K. C. L.
1 We are happy to record that Dr. Mohanlal Mehta has recently been awarded the Rabindra Special Prize by the Government of the Uttar Pradesh for this volume for his distinguished contribution to Hindi literature. Editor
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